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Living Information
Read Japanese: Weather Warnings and Advisories
2021.06.30
日本語を読もう「気象警報・注意報」
The Japan Meteorological Agency issues a number of warnings and advisories in response to potential weather hazards. Current warnings and advisories are broadcast on TV and radio weather forecasts, and warnings often are flashed briefly at the top of TV screens when issued. As these are broadcast in Japanese, it's a good idea to try and remember some of the important vocabulary you'll need to decipher warnings.
■Emergency warnings (特別警報 / tokubetsu keihō)
- issued when a serious disaster will most probably happen
大雨(土砂災害、浸水害) / ōame (dosha-saigai, shinsui-gai) |
Heavy rain (Ground-loosening, Inundation) |
| *May be issued as either 'Ground loosening' or 'Inundation', or both, depending on circumstances | |
大雪 / ōyuki |
Heavy snow |
暴風 / bōfū |
Storm |
暴風雪 / bōfūsetsu |
Snow-storm |
波浪 / harō |
High waves |
高潮/ takashio |
Storm surge (An extreme rise in the sea level as a typhoon approaches) |
■Warnings (警報 / keihō)
- issued when serious disasters may happen
大雨(土砂災害、浸水害) / ōame (dosha-saigai, shinsui-gai) |
Heavy rain (Ground-loosening, Inundation) |
洪水 / kōzui |
Flood |
暴風 / bōfū |
Storm |
暴風雪 / bōfusetsu |
Snow-storm |
大雪 / ōyuki |
Heavy snow |
波浪 / harō |
High waves |
高潮 / takashio |
Storm surge |
■Advisories (注意報 / chūihō)
- issued when disasters may happen
大雨 / ōame |
Heavy rain |
洪水 / kōzui |
Flood |
大雪 / ōyuki |
Heavy snow |
強風 / kyōfū |
Gale |
風雪 / fūsetsu |
Gale and snow |
波浪 / harō |
High waves |
高潮 / takashio |
Storm surge |
雷 / kaminari |
Thunderstorm |
濃霧 / nōmu |
Dense fog |
乾燥 / kansō |
Dry air |
なだれ / nadare |
Avalanche |
着氷 / chakuhyō |
Ice accretion |
着雪 / chakusetsu |
Snow accretion |
融雪 / yūsetsu |
Snow-melting |
霜 / shimo |
Frost |
低温 / teion |
Low temperature |
