NHK



 

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a powerful winter pressure pattern has brought heavy snow, mainly along the Sea of Japan side.

Authorities are warning of possible impacts on transportation in areas including Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region, as snow accumulates rapidly.

The agency says a Japan Sea polar air mass convergence zone, or JPCZ, caused active snow clouds to develop over the Hokuriku and Kinki regions from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.

It issued information on significant heavy snowfall for Ishikawa Prefecture on Wednesday evening. It also did so on Thursday morning for areas east of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, after 25 centimeters of snowfall was recorded over a six-hour period in Hikone City.

Accumulated snow as of 11:00 a.m. on Thursday was 4.3 meters in Sukayu in the Hakkoda mountain range of Aomori Prefecture, 1.77 meters in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, 1.05 meters in Otaru City, Hokkaido, 33 centimeters in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, 31 centimeters in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 27 centimeters in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture and 20 centimeters in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Snow accumulated on some flatlands on the Pacific side as well.
The JPCZ is expected to move north, sending active snow clouds over Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region.

Niigata and Hokuriku could get up to 80 centimeters of snow over a 24-hour period through noon on Friday, while the Tohoku region could get 70 centimeters, the Kinki region 60 centimeters, the Chugoku region and Gifu Prefecture 50 centimeters, Hokkaido 40 centimeters, the Kanto-Koshin region 20 centimeters and Shikoku 10 centimeters.

The strong winter pressure pattern is forecast to continue through around Sunday. Another round of heavy snowfall is expected from Saturday through Sunday.

The agency is warning of possible disruptions in transportation, such as vehicles getting stuck on snowy roads.

It also warns that snow on power lines could cause outages.

People are being advised to refrain from nonessential or non-urgent outings, and check if they have sufficient fuel, cold weather gear, mobile batteries and other supplies.

Drivers are urged to stay updated on the latest traffic information, check detour routes, and have snow tires or tire chains ready.