Japan braces for more flooding following deadly Typhoon Hagibis

As Japan continues to pick up the pieces following the destruction caused by Typhoon Hagibis, more rainfall will sweep through the country into the weekend.

At least 77 fatalities have been linked to Hagibis as of Thursday, with some people still missing and more than 200 others injured. The storm triggered mudslides and caused dozens of swollen rivers to burst from their banks.

As of Wednesday, more than 100,000 homes still did not have water and thousands of households were still without electricity, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Hagibis left widespread destruction in its wake, including about $300 million in total damage to a fleet of bullet trains that were inundated, according to The Japan Times.

As recovery efforts continue in an attempt to provide food, water and other relief supplies to those in need, the weather will take a turn for the worse into the weekend.

A strengthening storm system will spread locally heavy rainfall across much of Japan into Saturday.

This includes the hardest-hit locations from Hagibis where there will be an elevated risk for flooding and mudslides.

Rain developed across Kyushu, Shikoku and southern Honshu developed on Friday morning and then spread across central Honshu into Friday night.

Torrential rainfall is forecast across central Honshu, including Greater Tokyo, on Friday night with a soaking rain spreading northward across the remainder of Honshu and into southern Hokkaido.

The rain will taper off on Saturday across southern and central Honshu while downpours continue in northern Honshu and southern Hokkaido.

Total rainfall of 2-4 inches (50-100 mm) is expected across areas still reeling from Hagibis' flooding rainfall less than a week ago. The hardest-hit locations could see an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 10 inches (250 mm).

The magnitude of this rainfall may stall or even prolong the need for recovery efforts from Hagibis.

Renewed flooding problems are possible and downpours on already saturated and weakened soil can result in mudslides.

Gusty winds accompanying the storm will also be capable of downing trees due to the already saturated soil.

A period of largely dry weather is forecast for the region from Sunday to Tuesday before another round of potentially heavy rainfall arrives.

This moisture will likely be from Neoguri, a tropical system perusing the Western Pacific Ocean near the northern Philippines. By the time that Neoguri reaches Japan, the system will lose most of it's tropical characteristics, but will still deliver tropical rainfall.

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