Typhoon Ampil
This image, acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on 16 August 2024, shows the eye of Ampil, a typhoon which formed in the Pacific Ocean earlier that month. The storm rapidly intensified, bringing heavy rain and winds to Japan's Izu Islands and to coastal areas of the Kanto and Tohoku regions between 10 and 12 August. With an intensity comparable to a Category 2 hurricane, Ampil unleashed fierce winds, rough seas and up to 200 millimetres of rain within 24 hours in some areas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued warnings for strong winds, high waves, landslides and flooding. These warnings were widely heeded by residents in the affected areas. The storm caused significant transport disruption across eastern Japan, including major reductions in train services and the cancellation of more than 600 flights.
