Tropical Storm Meari hammers Japan with heavy rainfall, wind

By YURI KAGEYAMA
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese weather officials say Tropical Storm Meari is unleashing heavy rains on the main island of Honshu as it heads northward toward the capital, Tokyo. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned Saturday that Meari was on course to make landfall by about noon, bringing sudden heavy rains and blasting winds, possibly setting off mudslides and flooding. Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo, was told to brace for extremely heavy rainfall. Meari is moving over coastal waters and expected to continue northward, making landfall before veering eastward. The Tokyo area was hammered by periodic downpours in the late morning and thunder rolled.