[2] Forming as the fifteenth named storm of the 2019 Pacific typhoon season, the precursor to Faxai was first noted as a weak tropical depression to the east of the International Dateline on August 29.

Two days later, Faxai reached its peak strength as a Category 4 typhoon just before making landfall in mainland Japan.

[5] On August 30, 2019, a tropical disturbance formed approximately 1,402 km (871 mi) east-northeast of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, and was marked as Invest 90W by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).

[7] The disturbance continued to stockpile deep convection over very warm sea surface temperatures of 31 to 32 °C (88 to 90 °F) and low vertical wind shear, conditions which are conducive for further tropical cyclogenesis.

[8] By September 1, the JTWC announced a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert as the system began to develop rainbands extending to the north.

[11] While maintaining the tropical storm strength according to the JTWC, the system strolled westward then west-northwestward alongside a subtropical ridge for the course of two days.

It weakened westward outflow, hindering development from atop, though another TUTT cell to the east provided ventilation for the shifted convection.

[15] Faxai later intensified into a typhoon as according to Dvorak estimates by the JTWC;[16] the JMA did not upgrade the storm's status until 00:00 UTC of September 7.

[11] Owing to the favorable conditions, Faxai underwent rapid intensification, attaining 1-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph).

In 18:00 UTC, the storm had transformed into a cold-core low of gale-force, with wind force that extended 1,500 km (920 mi) east of Misawa Air Base.

[10] It continued to shift east-northeastward, crossing the International Date Line on September 11, before dissipating by 18:00 UTC of that day.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued warnings for storm surge, flooding, and landslides, advising residents to avoid going outdoors.

On September 8, the Central Japan Railway Company cancelled or suspended approximately 50 bullet train services for areas in between Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture.

The East Japan Railway Company also stopped its services in Greater Tokyo in precaution of heavy rain.

Fires were reported at a solar power plant after Faxai and across the Chiba Prefecture farmlands being flooded due to heavy rain across Japan.

[33] People were toppled by large wind gusts during the storm with the eyewall passing over Japan damaging many areas.

[35] Due to the severe impact in Japan, the name Faxai was retired during the 52nd annual session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee in February 2020.