Asian Games 2026: Typhoon Dujuan Puts Organisers on High Alert in Nagoya
The Nagoya Asian Games 2026 (September 19-October 4) faces significant disruption from Tropical Storm Dujuan (Typhoon No. 25). The storm approaches central Japan, threatening heavy rain and strong winds for the Opening Ceremony on September 19 and early events.
The grandeur of the 20th Asian Games, set to open in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, tomorrow, September 19, 2026, hangs under a formidable cloud as Tropical Storm Dujuan rapidly closes in on the nation's central regions. Organisers are on high alert, with contingency plans activated amidst fears of major weather-related disruptions impacting early competitions and the highly anticipated Opening Ceremony. Asian Games 2026: North Korean Anthem Played for South Korea Ahead of Hockey Match vs Bangladesh.
Typhoon Dujuan, also known as Typhoon No. 25, is currently tracking northwest across the Pacific. As of noon Friday, September 18, 2026, the storm was located approximately 220 kilometers south-southeast of Chichijima Island, moving west-northwest at 40 km/h, packing a central pressure of 975 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 30 meters per second. Forecasters predict its closest approach to Japan's Ogasawara Islands this evening, followed by the Izu Islands on Sunday evening, and then moving towards the Kanto and Tokai regions (which includes Nagoya) by Monday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued warnings for eastern Honshu, including the Kanto and Tokai regions, anticipating significant weather impacts over Sunday and Monday. These include gusts potentially reaching 100 km/h (up to 120 km/h on the Izu Islands), rainfall of 100-200 mm (exceeding 250 mm in some coastal areas), and waves as high as 6.5 meters. This comes after Nagoya and its surrounding areas experienced torrential rains last week, leading to school closures, train suspensions, and temporary evacuations for hundreds of arriving athletes.
Games Schedule and Potential Impacts
The XX Asian Games are scheduled to run from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The Opening Ceremony is slated for tomorrow, September 19, 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00 Japan Standard Time (UTC+09:00) at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. While preliminary rounds for some sports like football, basketball, and volleyball are already underway, the peak impact of Typhoon Dujuan is projected for Sunday and Monday, threatening to disrupt the initial days of the main competition, including the start of the athletics programme from September 23-29 at the same venue. India Storm Into Women's Asian Games 2026 Cricket Semi-Finals With Emphatic Win Over Host Japan.
Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa, who also serves as the deputy president of the Games, stated that competitions would proceed under normal rainy conditions. However, he confirmed that emergency measures, including temporary evacuation for athletes, would be triggered if torrential rain led to official emergency alerts. Concerns are particularly high for the estimated 4,000 participants housed on the cruise ship Costa Serena in Nagoya's port, with plans for the vessel to move offshore to safer waters if typhoon-level winds are encountered.
Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) Chef de Mission, Kosei Inoue, reiterated the committee's commitment to thorough meetings and appropriate responses to the evolving weather situation. The coming days will test the resilience of both athletes and organisers as they navigate the formidable challenge posed by Typhoon Dujuan during this premier continental sporting event.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2026 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).