Winds that have been steering radiation from the crippled Fukushima Daiichinuclear power plant offshore will make a hazardous shift toward Tokyo inupcoming days.Winds from the southwest to west will continue to flow over the power plantthrough Saturday, local time, blowing radiation out over the open waters of thePacific.
The winds will no longer be protective starting Sunday. A departing area ofhigh pressure and an approaching storm system will force winds to turn onshoreand spread radiation into communities west and northwest of the power plant.
Winds will once again make a dangerous turn Monday, becoming northeasterly andputting any leaking radiation on a path toward Tokyo. Winds will likelycontinue to blow in that direction Tuesday.
The Associated Press reports that low levels of radiation have already beendetected well beyond Tokyo, which lies 140 miles south of the power plant.
Evacuation orders in Japan remain in place within a 12-mile radius of the plantdue to the radiation threat. The evacuated zone recommended by the UnitedStates for its citizens stands at 50 miles.
Story by Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist
