Two storms are expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Japan this week, with the Japan Meteorological Agency urging people to be cautious.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Typhoon Mekkhala, known as ³Ù²¹¾±´Ú¨± No. 7, was located south of Okinawa and moving slowly northward, according to the JMA. The storm was classified as strong, with a central pressure of 975 hectopascals, maximum sustained winds of 126 kilometers per hour near its center and maximum gusts of 180 kph.

Tropical Storm Higos, known as?³Ù²¹¾±´Ú¨± No. 8, could approach eastern Japan later in the week.

Mekkhala is expected to remain strong as it approaches the Nansei Islands from around Thursday to Saturday. Gusts could be strong enough to propel objects or overturn moving trucks. Okinawan residents have been urged to complete storm preparations by Wednesday.

Seas around Okinawa are also expected to become rough, with waves forecast to reach five meters Wednesday and seven meters on Thursday and Friday, accompanied by swells. Heavy rain is also expected, with up to 60 millimeters forecast in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Friday, and up to 150 millimeters in the following 24-hour period. Authorities are warning of possible landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and rising rivers.

Even before Mekkhala approaches, moist air and the seasonal rain front are bringing heavy rain to parts of western Japan, causing heavy rain warnings and evacuation orders in Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefectures. Several landslides have already been reported in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Meanwhile, Higos was over the Mariana Islands as of 3 p.m. Wednesday, moving west-northwest. It had a central pressure of 1,000 hectopascals, maximum sustained winds of 72 kph and gusts of 108 kph.

Higos is forecast to move slowly northwest and may approach the Ogasawara, Izu, Tokai or Kanto regions around Friday or Saturday.