New Disaster Prevention Weather Information

From Friday, May 29, 2026, the disaster prevention weather information announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency has changed

About the new disaster prevention weather information

New disaster prevention weather information and action guidelines

　Evacuation Information (Issued by the City)

When there is a risk of a disaster occurring, the city will issue evacuation information with an assigned alert level.

Evacuation information at the same level as meteorological information is not always issued simultaneously. Please maintain the awareness of "protecting your own life" and take appropriate evacuation actions.

 

Main Changes

The information names of warnings and advisories now include "Level"

The information names are annotated with five levels, making it easier to understand the correspondence between evacuation information issued by the city and the evacuation actions residents should take.

The way the risk level of river flooding is communicated has changed

The conventional "Flood Warning" and "Flood Advisory" have been abolished and replaced with communication methods based on river classifications.

[Example of Changes]

• (Old) "Flood Warning"

1. Flood Forecast Rivers (Note) → (New) "Level 3 Flood Warning" (Tama River)
2. Rivers other than Flood Forecast Rivers → (New) "Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning" (Misawa River - Inland Flooding)

Note: Rivers subject to flood forecasts jointly announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or prefectures

A "Level 5 Flood Special Warning" will be newly established regarding river flooding.

Information equivalent to "Alert Level 4" will be issued as a "Danger Warning."

Information equivalent to Level 4, indicating a situation where evacuation from dangerous locations is necessary, will be issued as a "Danger Warning."

[Example of Changes]

• (Old) "Landslide Disaster Warning Information" → (New) "Landslide Disaster Danger Warning" (278 designated landslide disaster warning areas)

Announcement of "Meteorological Disaster Prevention Bulletin"

Extreme phenomena will newly be announced as "Meteorological Disaster Prevention Bulletin."

[Example of Changes]

• (Old) "Meteorological Information on Remarkable Heavy Rain" → (New) "Meteorological Disaster Prevention Bulletin (Occurrence of Linear Rainband)"
• (Old) "Record-breaking Short-term Heavy Rain Information" → (New) "Meteorological Disaster Prevention Bulletin (Record-breaking Short-term Heavy Rain)"

Timing for Starting Evacuation

Image of Time Progression

・Level 1 "Early Warning Information"

A disaster has not yet occurred, but attention to future weather changes is necessary.

・Level 2 "Advisory"

This is the stage where the possibility of a disaster emerges. At this time, it is necessary to prepare in advance, such as checking hazardous locations around your home on a hazard map.

・Level 3 "Warning"

This is the timing for Older Adults and others who require more time to evacuate to leave dangerous areas. Others who are considering evacuation should prepare so they can evacuate at any time and, if necessary, carry out voluntary evacuation.

・Level 4 "Danger Warning"

This is the stage where everyone must evacuate from dangerous locations. At Level 5, going outside becomes dangerous, so those considering evacuation need to evacuate at this stage.

・Level 5 "Emergency Warning"

A disaster has already occurred or there is a very high possibility that it has occurred. Therefore, it is required to immediately move to a safer place than your current location.

Related Links

• Japan Meteorological Agency "About the New Disaster Prevention Meteorological Information (from 2024)" (External Link)