🌧️ Kumamoto Rain Warnings: 3 Areas Back to Normal

❓ What is changing?

After the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake ("Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake"), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) applied lowered, provisional thresholds in some municipalities of Kumamoto Prefecture from August 4, 2026. Specifically, the runoff index (basin rainfall index) threshold used for heavy-rain warnings — Level 4 Heavy Rain Danger Warning, Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning, and Level 2 Heavy Rain Advisory — was set at 70% of the normal value. The reason: with river embankments and revetments damaged by the quake, flooding can occur with less rain than usual, so a lower threshold lets JMA issue warnings earlier. After checking the condition of river structures, JMA restored the normal criteria in Kumamoto City, Uto City and Misato Town as of September 29, 2026. Western Yatsushiro City, Uki City and Hikawa Town continue under the 70% provisional criteria. In the areas back to normal, the Kikikuru flood and heavy-rain risk maps — which show danger in five colors — also reflect the normal criteria and remain usable for narrowing down evacuation areas. JMA says it will keep inspecting embankments and revetments, study the relationship between rainfall and disasters, and revise the provisional criteria if needed.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Residents and visitors in Kumamoto City, Uto City and Misato Town (normal criteria from Sept 29)
• ●Residents and visitors in western Yatsushiro City, Uki City and Hikawa Town (70% provisional criteria continues)
• ●Foreign travelers and business visitors heading to Kumamoto Prefecture
• ●People who work along rivers in Kumamoto, or commute near riverbanks

🌏 Impact on foreign residents and visitors

In Kumamoto City, Uto City and Misato Town, warnings had been issued more readily since August 4 because the thresholds were lowered; from September 29 the normal thresholds apply again. For the same amount of rain, a warning may now come later than it did over the past weeks. Do not assume "no warning means safe" — check the Kikikuru risk colors and your municipality's evacuation information yourself. Because western Yatsushiro City, Uki City and Hikawa Town remain on the provisional criteria, the timing of announcements can differ from town to town within the same prefecture. Even if the Japanese warning names (Heavy Rain Advisory / Warning / Danger Warning) are unfamiliar, Kikikuru shows risk on a map in five colors, so you can read the danger level regardless of language. Evacuation decisions follow the evacuation information issued by your municipality, so turning on your city's disaster-prevention email or app notifications is the safest move.