The northeastern coast of Japan already faced a great disaster on March 11, 2011.Now expecting strongest thunderstorms within Typhoon Ma-on is now affecting the southeastern coast of Japan and appeared on satellite imagery from two NASA satellites. The uneven waves, gusty winds and heavy rainfall are affecting eastern coastal Japan today.

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed rainfall rates in Ma-on on July 18, 2011 at 2306 UTC (7:06 p.m. EDT) and again on July 19, 2011 at 0221 UTC (July 18 at 10:21 p.m. EDT).The rainfall analysis used TRMM’s Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data from both orbits. At 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) on July 19, Typhoon Ma-on’s maximum sustained winds were near 55 knots.

Tropical storm-force winds extended out to 140 miles from the storm’s center. Ma-on was moving to the northeast near 10 knots. It was about 300 miles west-southwest of Yokosuka, Japan near 33.3 North and 134.2 East. Ma-on is expected to continue weakening and is now expected to recurve to the east-southeast and head back to sea sometime on July 20.Ma-on is expected to continue weakening and is now expected to recurve to the east-southeast and head back to sea sometime on July 20.