• Over 100 flights cancelled in Japan as two tropical storms approach.
• Rain and strong winds create flood and landslide risks in southern regions.
• Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cease operations to Okinawa and Kagoshima.
• Evacuation advisories issued for regions in Kyoto and Osaka.
• Tropical Storms Mekkhala and Higos may converge, complicating forecast efforts.

Japanese airlines cancelled more than 100 flights on Friday due to two tropical storms, Mekkhala and Higos, approaching the archipelago. Authorities have advised evacuations in affected areas amid warnings of possible flooding and landslides, particularly in southern regions such as Okinawa and Kagoshima, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala has been reported to have maximum gusts of up to 144 km/h and is expected to skirt the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku over the weekend. Heavy rainfall is already impacting parts of southern and western Japan. There is a potential for the storms to interact, resulting in the Fujiwhara effect, which complicates the forecasting of their paths and intensities, according to India Times.

As the situation develops, Kyoto and Osaka have reported rising river levels, leading to flood warnings. Kyoto city has instructed several thousand residents to evacuate due to concerns over landslides. Additionally, Toyota has suspended operations at a plant in Kyushu, while Nissan plans to halt some production lines due to road closures from heavy rain, as noted by Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and India Times.

Moreover, the twin storms have affected military operations, with the Japanese military cancelling the planned maiden flight of a V-22 Osprey transport aircraft to Miyako Island, which was part of joint exercises with the United States, as reported by South China Morning Post and India Times.