TOKYO - A large typhoon in the Pacific moved westward toward Japan's southwestern islands on Thursday, with the weather agency warning that the storm's effects could persist as it gradually slows.
Typhoon Dolphin, this year's 13th typhoon, was forecast to approach islands stretching southwest from Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, as well as Okinawa in the coming days. Toyota Motor Corp. said it will halt operations at nine factories in the country from Friday.
High waves accompanied by swells may be seen through Saturday in northern Kyushu and the western main island of Shikoku, and around Sunday in Okinawa, nearby Amami region and southern Kyushu, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, struck by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 28, is expected to see mostly sunny weather through Friday, with occasional rain possible.
Toyota said the operation halt will involve all 17 production lines at the nine factories, including those in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, given that the typhoon is expected to affect sea transportation. Operation will resume on Aug. 17 following a summer holiday period that will start Saturday.
Rain is forecast from Saturday through Monday in Kumamoto, and areas where the quake loosened the ground could face landslides even after relatively light rainfall. Fine weather is expected to return Tuesday.
Rainfall in the 24 hours through noon Friday could total up to 200 millimeters in Okinawa and 180 mm in southern Kyushu and Amami.
As of 6 p.m. Thursday, the typhoon was about 120 kilometers northeast of Minamidaito Island in Okinawa Prefecture. It had an atmospheric pressure of 950 hectopascals at its center and was packing winds of up to 216 kilometers per hour.
Typhoon Kujira, the year's 14th typhoon, weakened into a tropical depression over the Philippine island of Luzon.
The 15th typhoon, Chan-hom, was moving northward in waters near Wake Island, an atoll located in the North Pacific, and could affect Japan from next week, although there remains a range of possible tracks.
