Typhoon Ampil approached eastern Japan with fierce winds on Friday, causing widespread disruptions and prompting authorities to issue warnings about the risk of landslides. The storm unleashed heavy rain on the greater Tokyo area, resulting in flooded streets, evacuations, and a halt to businesses and travel.

With maximum sustained winds of 132 miles per hour, similar in strength to a Category 4 hurricane, Ampil posed a significant threat. By Friday morning, rain had already begun falling in parts of the greater Tokyo area. In Chiba Prefecture, located east of the capital, roads were flooded and trees were uprooted, reported local media.

Although the typhoon was not expected to make landfall, forecasters anticipated Ampil's most intense winds and heaviest rain to hit Japan by Friday evening. The Japan Meteorological Agency predicted up to eight inches of rain in the Tokyo area and the Izu Islands, located south of the capital, within a 24-hour period starting Friday morning. Additionally, gusts of up to 56 mph were forecasted for the Tokyo area.

In response to the approaching storm, flood, heavy rain, and high wave warnings were issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency for the Izu Islands and surrounding areas, including Chiba, Fukushima, and Shizuoka prefectures. These warnings were expected to remain in effect until Saturday.

To prevent potential damage caused by the typhoon, the city of Mobara, east of Tokyo, issued evacuation orders for residents living in landslide and flood-prone areas. As a precautionary measure, municipal buses were suspended. The storm also disrupted Japan's delivery system, with Japan Post, Yamato Transport, and Sagawa Express suspending operations in multiple prefectures.

The impact of Typhoon Ampil extended to the tourism and transportation sectors as well. Tokyo Disneyland announced an early closure at 3 p.m. on Friday, reducing its operating hours by six as a safety measure. Travel disruptions began on Thursday as airlines and train operators suspended services in anticipation of the adverse weather conditions. Bullet trains connecting Tokyo and Nagoya were canceled for Friday, while both All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines canceled over 670 flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday, affecting more than 120,000 passengers.

As for Ampil's trajectory, it is projected to move along Japan's east coast before veering eastward on Saturday, away from the country and towards the Pacific Ocean, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Typhoons, known as tropical cyclones, become active in the Western Pacific or Indian Oceans, carrying sustained winds of at least 74 mph. In comparison, hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean, with wind speeds of 74 mph or greater.

As the typhoon continues its course, authorities are urging residents and travelers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety amidst the ongoing severe weather conditions.