A powerful typhoon could strike mainland Japan early next week.
Widespread adverse rain, wind and sea impact is possible, even for site of the tsunami disaster and nuclear site.
Ma-on, which gained typhoon status east of the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday, will intensify markedly over the northern Philippines Sea today through Saturday. This dramatic strengthening of Ma-on could culminate in super typhoon status for a time over open water.
As of Thursday afternoon local time, the typhoon featured maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, with higher gusts.
Storm movement, towards the west on Thursday, is likely to become northwesterly or even northerly by the end of the week.
Given a late-week turn towards the north, the center of Ma-on could be nearing the southwestern shores of Japan early next week packing potentially destructive winds, flooding rain and dangerous storm tides.
Storms of the kind that Ma-on is likely to become can unload extreme rainfall of 10 to 20 inches, with flooding and mudslides, upon reaching Japan.
Depending upon storm intensity at landfall, winds above hurricane strength could unleash widespread destruction.
Greater Tokyo is unlikely to feel the worst of the storm, no matter its ultimate track. Still, flooding rain and damaging winds could take place in the early to middle parts of the week.
Likewise, in northeastern Honshu, at the site of the March tsunami and nuclear disasters, there is the potential for heavy rain, high winds and rough seas next week.