Japan braces for Typhoon Melor

TOKYO, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Japan is bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Melor, expected to be the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Japan in two years, weather forecasters say.

In anticipation of the typhoon's arrival airlines canceled more than 240 flights Wednesday and planned another 260 cancellations Thursday, Kyodo News reports.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the season's 18th typhoon is likely to make landfall in or around Kii Peninsula in western Japan on Thursday and travel northward across Honshu Island Friday.

"It is expected to take a quite dangerous course that will require caution across Japan," said Akira Murakami, a senior weather forecaster for the agency.

The agency warns that the typhoon could bring strong winds, high waves and heavy rain to western and eastern Japan, Mainichi Shimbun reported.

The last typhoon to make landfall in Japan was in September 2007.