This article describes the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) severe weather terminology. The JMA defines precise meanings for nearly all its weather terms as the Information for Severe Weather Preparation (防災気象情報, Bousai Kishō Jōhō). This article describes JMA terminology and related JMA weather scales. Some terms may be specific to certain regions.
Warning Categories
Severe weather bulletins are issued as an advisory or a warning, depending on the risk or severity of the event. Less severe events that could be a cause for concern will be issued as a bulletin or an advisory.
Meteorological Warnings
Weather advisories and warnings are issued when potentially hazardous weather is occurring or is forecast for the short-term period.
General Warnings
Due to its local-scale nature, an advisory is typically issued in advance for public forecast areas where conditions may be favorable for the development of severe weather. A warning is issued for areas where severe weather is imminent or occurring.
Advisories
- Advisory for Gale and snow (風雪注意報, Fūsetsu Chūihō)
- Advisory for Gale (強風注意報, Kyōfū Chūihō)
- Advisory for Heavy rain (大雨注意報, Ōame Chūihō)
- Advisory for Heavy snow (大雪注意報, Ōyuki Chūihō)
- Advisory for Dense fog (濃霧注意報, Nōmu Chūihō)
- Advisory for Thunderstorm (雷注意報, Kaminari Chūihō)
- Advisory for Dry air (乾燥注意報, Kansō Chūihō)
- Advisory for Avalanche (なだれ注意報, Nadare Chūihō)
- Advisory for Ice/snow accretion (着氷・着雪注意報, Chakuhyō Chakusetsu Chūihō)
- Advisory for Frost (霜注意報, Shimo Chūihō)
- Advisory for Low temperature (低温注意報, Teion Chūihō)
- Advisory for Snow melting (融雪注意報, Yūsetsu Chūihō)
- Advisory for Storm surge (高潮注意報, Takashio Chūihō)
- Advisory for High waves (波浪注意報, Harō Chūihō)
- Advisory for Flood (洪水注意報, Kōzui Chūihō)
Warnings
- Warning for Storm (暴風警報, Bōfū Keihō)
- Warning for Snow-storm (暴風雪警報, Bōfūsetsu Keihō)
- Warning for Heavy rain (大雨警報, Ōame Keihō)
- Warning for Heavy snow (大雪警報, Ōyuki Keihō)
- Warning for Storm surge (高潮警報, Takashio Keihō)
- Warning for High waves (波浪警報, Harō Keihō)
- Warning for Flood (洪水警報, Kōzui Keihō)
Marine Warnings
- Warning for Near Gale (海上風警報, Kaijō Keihō)
- Warning for Gale (海上強風警報, Kaijō Kyōfū Keihō)
- Warning for Storm (海上暴風警報, Kaijō Bōfū Keihō)
- Warning for Typhoon (海上台風警報, Kaijō Taifū Keihō)
- Warning for Dense Fog (海上濃霧警報, Kaijō Nōmu Keihō)
- Warning for Icing (海上着氷警報, Kaijō Chakuhyō Keihō)
- Warning for Sea Swell (海上うねり警報, Kaijō Uneri Keihō)
Typhoons or Tropical Depressions
- Typhoon Information (台風情報, Taifū Jōhō)
Flood Forecasting
- Flood Forecasting (洪水予報, Kōzui Yohō)
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