TOKYO, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Peipah is expected to approach western Japan, including Kyushu, and could make landfall later this week, the weather agency said Thursday, warning of heavy rain mainly along western Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said a tropical depression over waters east of Amami-Oshima Island in southwestern Japan developed into the tropical storm as of 3 a.m. local time Thursday.

As of 6 a.m. local time, Peipah was moving northward at a speed of 30 km an hour, packing winds of up to 90 km per hour, the JMA added.

Extreme downpours were already pounding southern Kyushu as warm and damp air from the south flowed in.

Rainfall in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. local time Friday was expected to reach 300 millimeters in the Shikoku region, 200 mm in northern and southern parts of Kyushu and 180 mm in the Tokai region in central Japan, the JMA said.

Weather officials warned of mudslides and floods in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, river overflows, gusts and high waves, as well as lightning and freak winds, including tornadoes. ■