Severe Tropical Storm Maria has been disrupting air, rail and road transportation, mainly in northeastern Japan.

As of 5 p.m. on Sunday, Japan Airlines had canceled a total of 78 flights for Monday, many of which connect the northeastern Tohoku region with Tokyo and Osaka. All Nippon Airways had canceled eight flights, including those between Osaka and Aomori.

The airlines warn that more flights departing from and arriving in the Tohoku region may be affected by the approaching storm.

The East Japan Railway Company said delays or cancelations are possible on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, the Yamagata Shinkansen line and the Akita Shinkansen line, starting with Monday's earliest trains.

JR East also said it has already decided to suspend operations on some sections of local lines all day on Monday. They added that more disruptions are possible.

The East Nippon Expressway Company said chances are high that some sections of the Tohoku Expressway and the Joban Expressway will be closed from Sunday night to Tuesday, due to heavy rains the storm is expected to bring.

People planning travel to and from northeastern Japan are advised to check the latest traffic information online and by other means.