Same here. However that's also how I used to view tsunami warnings until March 13th. (the one in Okushiri Hokkaido in the early 90's was before my time and too far away to register).

what does "Do SQUAT" mean? does it mean that it doesn't do any harm?

Surely it must depend on the strength and ferociousness of the typhoon.


We were told about it here in UK--it was supposed to be going close to the recent damaged area in japan.


Heavy rainfall hits 3 quake-stricken prefectures ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion


Gov't misses 30,000-unit home supply goal for quake evacuees ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Pretty much any typhoon that hits Japan is going to go close to that area. Typhoons tend to travel a pretty set path up the coast of Japan. Most of the time they weaken along the way or swerve out into the ocean.

Of course damage is going to depend on the size and strength - but it would have to be one serious typhoon to cause serious damage. This one was not. It was an early typhoon too, so was expected to weaken pretty quickly once it got up here... Which it did.

Most of the country got nothing but the equivalent of a rain storm.

its good to know that it was not bad.

We are not used to typhoons in the UK-- when we do get strong winds-- such as was in Scotland recently 125 mile an hour winds-- a lot of damage can be done.

I am paranoid about winds since a couple of previous storms here in UK that did a lot of damage.


When I see on the news what happens in other countries-- America-- where typhoons seem to be quite common, I know that here in the UK we (TOUCH WOOD) are fortunate.


The tsunamis that have hit your country and other countries show how helpless we are against Nature.

Typhoons are a normal occurence in the Pacific. Most are just rain givers and some are powerful, but they're quite normal. Perhaps the situation in Japan in March has woken people up to things that may happen in the area, weatherwise, and has put people more on alert on impending weather systems. But I assure you, these typhoons happen pretty often this time of year, year in and year out.

typhoons
 

Sometime heavy rain is much more dangerous than wind gusts. Towns and villages located nearby rivers and coastline must be evacuated.

Yes I am sure you are right.