Tropical storm Ampil is moving north over the sea south of Japan and is expected to approach the Ogasawara Islands on Wednesday.

Weather officials say Ampil could then approach the Izu Islands and the eastern Japan, including Tokyo, on Thursday or beyond.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says Ampil has a central atmospheric pressure of 998 hectopascals. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near its center and gusts peaking at 90 kilometers per hour.

Ampil is expected to pick up strength as it continues heading north.

Its path is likely to reach its nearest point to the Ogasawara Islands sometime on Wednesday, in the late afternoon or later at night. The islands are likely to see heavy thunder showers from Tuesday night through Thursday.

Maximum rainfall could reach 80 millimeters in the 24 hours through Wednesday morning and 120 millimeters during the following 24 hours.

The sea will be extremely stormy on Thursday. Weather officials are warning of high waves and advising full precautions against landslides. They are also calling on people in the storm's likely path to keep updated with the latest information.