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The Izu archipelago have faced yet another severe impact as tropical cyclone Nakri swept through the area on Monday, coming just after storm Halong, which struck seven days prior.

Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima

Local authorities on Hachijojima reported disruption and damage to approximately 220 residences after the typhoon brought an hour of rainfall totaling 37mm and wind bursts reaching 95mph. Flight services were interrupted, infrastructure damaged, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the island chain. The storm also generated 9-metre waves, creating dangerous coastal conditions. Off the Pacific coast in Oiso, in Kanagawa prefecture, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.

The Evolution of Nakri

Nakri has since transitioned into an non-tropical storm system, weakening as it moved eastwards over chilled northern Pacific seas, with gusts reducing to around 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remnants are on track to reach the Canadian province of British Columbia, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.

Recalling Halong's Fury

Seven days before, Halong had unleashed over 200mm of precipitation within three hours, as maximum sustained winds reached 122mph. By the late morning of the previous Thursday, precipitation levels climbed to 349mm, shattering the 24-hour record. The typhoon’s remnants then traveled over the northern Pacific and reached Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.

Significant Harm in Alaska

The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. A single fatality occurred, houses were ruined, and about 1,500 residents were forced into shelters. Alaska experienced one of the largest airlifts in its history to relocate affected individuals. Halong stands as one of the most powerful storms the area has ever seen. Its quick strengthening was driven by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.

Double Trouble in Mexico

Meanwhile, the country faced two consecutive hits last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond converged, releasing nearly 609mm of precipitation over four days across the central and eastern areas. Guided by a trough in the air current, both systems hit the same area in quick succession. The first deluge from Priscilla made the soil waterlogged, worsening floods as Raymond approached. Over 300 localities were impacted by mudslides and river overflows. As of Wednesday, 66 people have been confirmed dead and 75 individuals are still unaccounted for. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with standing water causing health worries in isolated areas.