Weather news stories have focused recently on the hurricanes hitting Florida this year, one after another.

Japan has also been suffering from a series of tropical cyclones. In the past month, seven typhoons have made landfall there.

In much the same way that Florida is keeping a wary eye on Ivan, Japan has been watching the development of Sarika in the Pacific Ocean. Today Sarika has been downgraded to a tropical depression. No doubt there were many sighs of relief, accompanied by the hope that re-strengthening not occur.