Tropical Storm Etau (2015)

Severe Tropical Storm Etau

Etau approaching Japan on September 8
Meteorological history
Formed	September 6, 2015
Extratropical	September 9, 2015
Dissipated	September 11, 2015
Severe tropical storm
10-minute sustained (JMA)
Highest winds	95 km/h (60 mph)
Lowest pressure	985 hPa (mbar); 29.09 inHg
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds	110 km/h (70 mph)
Lowest pressure	978 hPa (mbar); 28.88 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	8 confirmed
Damage	$2.44 billion
Areas affected	Japan (particularly eastern Honshu), Russian Far East
IBTrACS
Part of the 2015 Pacific typhoon season

Severe Tropical Storm Etau caused extensive and destructive flooding across eastern Japan during early September 2015. Originating from a tropical disturbance near Guam on September 2, Etau was first classified a tropical depression on September 5. Tracking generally north, the cyclone gradually intensified and reached its peak strength with winds of 95 km/h (60 mph) on September 8. The following day, Etau made landfall in Honshu, Japan. It subsequently transitioned into an extratropical cyclone later that day over the Sea of Japan.

Record-breaking rains fell across Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures, triggering destructive floods. Evacuation orders were issued to approximately 2.8 million people. Levee breaches took place along multiple rivers, most notably the Kinugawa which subsequently inundated the city of Jōsō. Eight people were killed across eastern Japan and total damage amounted to ¥294 billion (US$2.44 billion).^[1]