Nagoya Record Rainfall 2026: 104.5 mm in One Hour Causes Devastating Floods

On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Nagoya, Japan, witnessed an extraordinary weather event as 104.5 millimeters of rain fell within a single hour – the highest hourly rainfall ever recorded in the city since records began in 1890. This record-breaking downpour surpassed the previous mark of 97.0 millimeters set during the “Tokai Heavy Rain” disaster in September 2000.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) logged the historic rainfall, which overwhelmed the city's infrastructure and prompted authorities to issue the highest-level emergency warnings.

The torrential downpour caught many residents off guard, transforming streets into raging rivers within mere minutes. The city swiftly responded, issuing Level 5 "Emergency Safety Confirmation" warnings for Chikusa, Moriyama, and Meito wards, and a separate Level 5 emergency flood warning for the Shonai River. Approximately 607,879 households, or about 1.17 million people, were under the highest-level evacuation advisory in Nagoya alone, with a total of 2.65 million people across three prefectures advised to evacuate.

Public transportation in Nagoya came to a halt, with all six lines of the Nagoya Municipal Subway suspended and numerous other rail services halted. Streets flooded, cars were swept away, and underground shopping areas and subway stations were inundated. Rescue and emergency services raced to assist stranded residents and assess the damage.

As the full impact unfolded, September 8, 2026, became a day etched in Nagoya's memory for breaking its own rainfall record and highlighting the escalating challenges of extreme weather.