1. 地震じしん — Earthquake

Japan has many earthquakes, so 地震じしん is one of the most important words to know.

Example:

昨日きのう、大おおきい地震じしんがありました。

There was a big earthquake yesterday.

You may also hear:

地震じしんが起おきました。

An earthquake occurred.

2. 津波つなみ — Tsunami

A 津波つなみ is a very large wave that can happen after an earthquake under the ocean.

Example:

津波つなみに気きをつけてください。

Please be careful of the tsunami.

You may also see warnings such as:

津波警報つなみけいほうが出でています。

A tsunami warning has been issued.

3. 台風たいふう — Typhoon

Typhoons are common in Japan, especially from summer to autumn.

Example:

台風たいふうが日本にほんに近ちかづいています。

A typhoon is approaching Japan.

Another useful sentence is:

台風たいふうで電車でんしゃが止とまりました。

The trains stopped because of the typhoon.

4. 大雨おおあめ — Heavy Rain

大雨おおあめ literally means “heavy rain.”

Heavy rain can sometimes cause floods and landslides.

Example:

今日きょうは大雨おおあめになるそうです。

It looks like there will be heavy rain today.

5. 洪水こうずい — Flood

洪水こうずい happens when rivers overflow or large amounts of water cover roads and buildings.

Example:

大雨おおあめで洪水こうずいが起おきました。

A flood occurred because of the heavy rain.

6. 土砂崩どしゃくずれ — Landslide

A 土砂崩どしゃくずれ happens when soil, rocks, or part of a mountain suddenly falls down.

Example:

大雨おおあめで土砂崩どしゃくずれが起おきるかもしれません。

A landslide may occur because of the heavy rain.

7. 噴火ふんか — Eruption

噴火ふんか means a volcanic eruption.

Example:

火山かざんが噴火ふんかしました。

The volcano erupted.

8. 山火事やまかじ — Wildfire / Forest Fire

山やま means “mountain” and 火事かじ means “fire.”山火事やまかじ refers to a wildfire or forest fire.

Example:

乾燥かんそうした天気てんきで山火事やまかじが広ひろがりました。

The wildfire spread because of the dry weather.

9. 雷かみなり — Thunder / Lightning

雷かみなり is commonly used when talking about thunder and lightning during a storm.

Example:

外そとで雷かみなりが鳴　なっています。

There is thunder outside.

You may also hear:

雷かみなりに気きをつけてください。

Please be careful of lightning.

10. 避難ひなん — Evacuation

避難ひなん is an extremely important word during a natural disaster.
It means moving to a safe place to escape danger.

Example:

すぐに避難ひなんしてください。

Please evacuate immediately.

You may also hear:

安全あんぜんな場所ばしょに避難ひなんしてください。

Please evacuate to a safe place.

11. 警報けいほう・注意報ちゅういほう — Warning / Advisory

警報けいほう means “warning” and is used when there is a higher level of danger.
注意報ちゅういほう means “advisory” and tells people to be careful because dangerous weather may occur.

For example:

大雨警報おおあめけいほう

Heavy rain warning

津波警報つなみけいほう

Tsunami warning

強風注意報きょうふうちゅういほう

Strong wind advisory

Example:

大雨警報おおあめけいほうが出でています。

A heavy rain warning has been issued.

強風注意報きょうふうちゅういほうが出でています。

A strong wind advisory has been issued.

12. 停電ていでん — Power Outage

Natural disasters can sometimes cause electricity to stop working.
This is called 停電ていでん.

Example:

台風たいふうで停電ていでんしました。

There was a power outage because of the typhoon.

13. 断水だんすい — Water Outage

断水だんすい means that the water supply has stopped.

Example:

地震じしんのあと、断水だんすいしました。

The water supply stopped after the earthquake.