A typhoon is going to make landfall today, with strong winds (obviously) and lots of rain (obviously). It's already been pretty wet today, and this is just the leading edge.
I fear for my house because it's made of paper, held together with nothing but hope and the building is administered by a crazy landlady who tries walking in whenever she feels like it. Luckily, I've had my door locked ever since my second day of being here, when a random foreigner walked into my house of his own accord.
That seems to be commonplace here.
Of the typhoon; the temperature has dropped to the low 20's, which is glorious. I hope it's a factor of the season rather than this weather event, but I suspect it isn't. It's also heading up the length of the country (see the link).
It's only a small one so people aren't particularly fussed, although I am somewhat suspicious of the projected trajectory. Look at the previous path of the storm and you'll see that it went around in a circle. No way did anyone predict that; which means this, like an earthquake, is unpredictable at best. I wouldn't be surprised if it missed Japan entirely.
As an addendum, the internet delivers when no question has even been asked! That's what the graph in my previous post should have looked like, and that's why the chair, once it's attached to the machine, is a real bastard to pull loose.
#Update#
All the kids are going home in ten minutes because the typhoon is trying to kill people down south.
Initially I laughed because they have to ride home on their bikes if their parents won't pick them up; but then I realised that I'm obliged to stay until my contractually pre-arranged hour. Why send the kids home? Because they don't want the little brats caught in the strongest part of the storm, which will be from now, until who knows when (the centre of the storm is passing right over us, and it's not calm like a tornado) which means I will be riding home in the hell-storm.
That wiped the smile off my face.
Then again, IT WILL BE HELLA FUN! I can't wait.
I want to go stomping around outside pretending to be a dragon, splashing around in the puddles roaring.
Then I want to play a game of rugby in this weather, for about twenty minutes I bet it'd be awesome. No one would be able to pass the ball. After that twenty minute period I'd be exhausted and go home. Probably with polio.
Showing posts with label storm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label storm. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Oh the Heat
So the heat messed me up pretty badly today.
I had to cycle into work, as is usual on a Friday. It's a thirty minute ride, but by 8.30 AM it was already 28 degrees, with a humidity that rivals rainforests. It took me about two hours before my body was able to regulate its' own temperature, and by then I'd already had to teach a class. I'm pretty sure it was the worst class ever, but I can't remember... I've only just managed (five hours later) to get rid of my headache from this morning. The upshot - don't bike anywhere when it's this humid. It's not even the heat so much as the humidity. Dry-heat is preferable. I don't know the exact statistic, but I believe it's around a hundred million times more pleasant to have a 35 degree heat with 10% humidity than a 30 degree heat with 98% humidity.
It's also come to my attention that I've been bitching about the heat for a month now. I honestly don't know why, but it's really messing me up.
On a bizarre side-note, the average Japanese person is terrified of lightening. They warned me about lightening, pointing out that 'when it is thunder, flash from sky... flash is dangerous.' Well, aside from the Engrish (I would love to be able to say even that much in Japanese at this point), I find it incredible to think that they think no other country in the world has thunderstorms. I've been asked if England has thunder and lightening, whether it rains a lot, (I thought England was notorious for that) and whether it's dangerous in England.
I would say I'm in far more danger being here, as I'm at least half a foot taller than average. Considering the fact that right now it's thundering, and there's a wickedsick storm outside, I'll have to do my best granny impression and ride my bike bent over double.
Or not, considering open plains are not common here.
I had to cycle into work, as is usual on a Friday. It's a thirty minute ride, but by 8.30 AM it was already 28 degrees, with a humidity that rivals rainforests. It took me about two hours before my body was able to regulate its' own temperature, and by then I'd already had to teach a class. I'm pretty sure it was the worst class ever, but I can't remember... I've only just managed (five hours later) to get rid of my headache from this morning. The upshot - don't bike anywhere when it's this humid. It's not even the heat so much as the humidity. Dry-heat is preferable. I don't know the exact statistic, but I believe it's around a hundred million times more pleasant to have a 35 degree heat with 10% humidity than a 30 degree heat with 98% humidity.
It's also come to my attention that I've been bitching about the heat for a month now. I honestly don't know why, but it's really messing me up.
On a bizarre side-note, the average Japanese person is terrified of lightening. They warned me about lightening, pointing out that 'when it is thunder, flash from sky... flash is dangerous.' Well, aside from the Engrish (I would love to be able to say even that much in Japanese at this point), I find it incredible to think that they think no other country in the world has thunderstorms. I've been asked if England has thunder and lightening, whether it rains a lot, (I thought England was notorious for that) and whether it's dangerous in England.
I would say I'm in far more danger being here, as I'm at least half a foot taller than average. Considering the fact that right now it's thundering, and there's a wickedsick storm outside, I'll have to do my best granny impression and ride my bike bent over double.
Or not, considering open plains are not common here.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Tropical Storm Warning.
Check this link to see the storm brewing in the Korea area.
It's the Japanese meteorological society though, so it might be bunk.
These things have a high chance of changing direction, and for the sake of the island, I hope it does; it's missing us at the moment!
We'll only be in the indirect firing line, as it were, but another day off might be nice.
It's the Japanese meteorological society though, so it might be bunk.
These things have a high chance of changing direction, and for the sake of the island, I hope it does; it's missing us at the moment!
We'll only be in the indirect firing line, as it were, but another day off might be nice.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
'Super Typhoon Melor'
So here I am in another coffee shop, thinking on the day that's passed.
There's a typhoon coming; but those on the news aside, there's not much fuss about it. Although I'm certain it's the biggest one this year (a few reports have mentioned as much) and although I'm certain it's changed direction and is now going to pass right over here, rather than glance us as previously predicted; the people here pay little attention to the matter. Only upon prompting will they talk about it, and this is puzzling me. Maybe the fact that a serious typhoon is a threat to life plays a part in my perceived ambivalence surrounding the subject. Not wanting to relive past events and whatnot. Think back to the storm in the late 80's in England, and the furore that caused. Think winds that are twice as fast and more rain than is logically possible and you get the kind of idea of what typhoon means here.
Or maybe I've got it all wrong. The reason they don't talk about it, even though it's already affecting southern areas of Japan as I write this, is because it's not a big deal. Between the typhoons, massive fires, earthquakes and tsunamis this little bit of wind and rain is probably nothing to get excited about. Six feet of overnight snow would plummet England into the dark (I toyed with the idea of putting ice here instead of dark) ages, but in the Scandinavian countries? What you're used to defines your responses to such situation, I suppose.
Anyway, I'm in an absolutely prime position to witness this storm first-hand and have made the necessary preparations to do so. Yokohama is on the North Eastern side of a peninsula just below Tokyo, and the storm will (if it carries on as predicted) travel overland to hit me. Essentially, the storm is travelling at around 40m/s North North East, and will be weakened by the time it reaches me, because of the land it travels over.
Quick geography lesson: Oceans fuel tropical storms, evaporated water provides the storm with energy, so when it's over the ocean it has the potential to incorporate more water into its' mass. Once over land water can no longer join the storm, so at most the storm will stay the same intensity, but in most cases will rapidly dissipate. Lesson over.
Therefore, travelling up Japan means the storm will lose energy as it rains all over the southern parts. It also means the leading edge can't affect the seas here, as it will on the other side of the peninsula. The high wind speeds will counteract the extremely low pressures (935 millibars!) by essentially forcing the waves away from shore. The situation is completely different on the other shore, with winds and low pressure forcing high tides towards the land. It should be interesting to see the effect on damage between both areas, if there is any of course.
On the news I've seen the smaller islands south of Japan being battered, trees coming down and whatnot. There has also been at least one death, but where I have no idea. The warmer the waters are the more ferocious the storm, (until you go too far south, then there are no storms, but that's a whole different lesson) so these islands are always the ones you see on the news being destroyed by all manner of different god (sic) based acts.
So by preparations I mean I've purchased a few supplies. Firstly, to go with my rain proof jacket, I've bought plastic trouser overall rain proof cover things. If anyone knows their official name, please, do tell. I'm currently hunting for a plastic cover for my bag, and a plastic bag for my camera. Ideally I want a proper bag cover (everyone here has one), but I'll settle for a Tescos bag. (They don't have Tescos here, it was just an example) The plastic bag for my camera has to be completely clear though, I want to shoot through it without taking my camera out. It hasn't stopped raining for two days here because of the weatherfront, so I can only imagine how hard the rain will be once it actually hits – thirty seconds in the rain could spell disaster for my camera. These supplies aside I think I'll be in good stead to check out what's what.
I'll definitely go out and have a nose around when it's dead overhead, that is, until cars start sailing past my window. Then I'm very much the indoor photographer. There's a great park looking onto the seafront, and I think I'll find myself wandering in that direction. I might try taking some drenched reporter style footage, with the trees bent double and twenty foot waves crashing upon the break behind me.
Yeah they do that here too. Send reporters into towns that have been evacuated, wearing bright blue or yellow plastic packaging holding a microphone that's cellophane wrapped to stop it getting wet, shouting something no one can understand into the microphone. Pretty much the scene I described above. I've not had the chance to ask if anyone here thinks it's weird too, but I'm guessing it's stupid in any culture. It must be fun being the guy who gets to do that. Well the first few times it would be fun. It sure as hell beats going into Iraq and doing that kind of correspondence, anyway.
That's pretty much my day tomorrow sorted, I'm going to get very wet.
Then the day after is my interview of course!
And in other interview related news, I have another interview for a strange but cool sounding English speaking cafe. They hold lessons in English, but also have a cafe where the teachers and students hang out outside of lessons, and speak English! Sounds interesting, but I'm not sure how economically viable it is. Maybe it would be something fun to do at the weekends, to meet new people and earn a little money on the side.
That's it for now, I'm going to head back and collect my washing (it's free here, so it's very much a case of fill your boots.)
The typhoon is called Melor by the way. You can keep track of it on google!
γγγΎγ。
There's a typhoon coming; but those on the news aside, there's not much fuss about it. Although I'm certain it's the biggest one this year (a few reports have mentioned as much) and although I'm certain it's changed direction and is now going to pass right over here, rather than glance us as previously predicted; the people here pay little attention to the matter. Only upon prompting will they talk about it, and this is puzzling me. Maybe the fact that a serious typhoon is a threat to life plays a part in my perceived ambivalence surrounding the subject. Not wanting to relive past events and whatnot. Think back to the storm in the late 80's in England, and the furore that caused. Think winds that are twice as fast and more rain than is logically possible and you get the kind of idea of what typhoon means here.
Or maybe I've got it all wrong. The reason they don't talk about it, even though it's already affecting southern areas of Japan as I write this, is because it's not a big deal. Between the typhoons, massive fires, earthquakes and tsunamis this little bit of wind and rain is probably nothing to get excited about. Six feet of overnight snow would plummet England into the dark (I toyed with the idea of putting ice here instead of dark) ages, but in the Scandinavian countries? What you're used to defines your responses to such situation, I suppose.
Anyway, I'm in an absolutely prime position to witness this storm first-hand and have made the necessary preparations to do so. Yokohama is on the North Eastern side of a peninsula just below Tokyo, and the storm will (if it carries on as predicted) travel overland to hit me. Essentially, the storm is travelling at around 40m/s North North East, and will be weakened by the time it reaches me, because of the land it travels over.
Quick geography lesson: Oceans fuel tropical storms, evaporated water provides the storm with energy, so when it's over the ocean it has the potential to incorporate more water into its' mass. Once over land water can no longer join the storm, so at most the storm will stay the same intensity, but in most cases will rapidly dissipate. Lesson over.
Therefore, travelling up Japan means the storm will lose energy as it rains all over the southern parts. It also means the leading edge can't affect the seas here, as it will on the other side of the peninsula. The high wind speeds will counteract the extremely low pressures (935 millibars!) by essentially forcing the waves away from shore. The situation is completely different on the other shore, with winds and low pressure forcing high tides towards the land. It should be interesting to see the effect on damage between both areas, if there is any of course.
On the news I've seen the smaller islands south of Japan being battered, trees coming down and whatnot. There has also been at least one death, but where I have no idea. The warmer the waters are the more ferocious the storm, (until you go too far south, then there are no storms, but that's a whole different lesson) so these islands are always the ones you see on the news being destroyed by all manner of different god (sic) based acts.
So by preparations I mean I've purchased a few supplies. Firstly, to go with my rain proof jacket, I've bought plastic trouser overall rain proof cover things. If anyone knows their official name, please, do tell. I'm currently hunting for a plastic cover for my bag, and a plastic bag for my camera. Ideally I want a proper bag cover (everyone here has one), but I'll settle for a Tescos bag. (They don't have Tescos here, it was just an example) The plastic bag for my camera has to be completely clear though, I want to shoot through it without taking my camera out. It hasn't stopped raining for two days here because of the weatherfront, so I can only imagine how hard the rain will be once it actually hits – thirty seconds in the rain could spell disaster for my camera. These supplies aside I think I'll be in good stead to check out what's what.
I'll definitely go out and have a nose around when it's dead overhead, that is, until cars start sailing past my window. Then I'm very much the indoor photographer. There's a great park looking onto the seafront, and I think I'll find myself wandering in that direction. I might try taking some drenched reporter style footage, with the trees bent double and twenty foot waves crashing upon the break behind me.
Yeah they do that here too. Send reporters into towns that have been evacuated, wearing bright blue or yellow plastic packaging holding a microphone that's cellophane wrapped to stop it getting wet, shouting something no one can understand into the microphone. Pretty much the scene I described above. I've not had the chance to ask if anyone here thinks it's weird too, but I'm guessing it's stupid in any culture. It must be fun being the guy who gets to do that. Well the first few times it would be fun. It sure as hell beats going into Iraq and doing that kind of correspondence, anyway.
That's pretty much my day tomorrow sorted, I'm going to get very wet.
Then the day after is my interview of course!
And in other interview related news, I have another interview for a strange but cool sounding English speaking cafe. They hold lessons in English, but also have a cafe where the teachers and students hang out outside of lessons, and speak English! Sounds interesting, but I'm not sure how economically viable it is. Maybe it would be something fun to do at the weekends, to meet new people and earn a little money on the side.
That's it for now, I'm going to head back and collect my washing (it's free here, so it's very much a case of fill your boots.)
The typhoon is called Melor by the way. You can keep track of it on google!
γγγΎγ。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)