Tokyo, Jan 3 (IANS) – Japan is bracing for heavy snowfall in its northern and eastern regions, particularly in mountainous areas along the Sea of Japan coast, due to a winter pressure pattern and a cold air mass, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
Snow Accumulation and Forecast
As of 5 a.m. local time Friday:
Sukayu in Aomori Prefecture recorded 412 cm of snow, more than double its seasonal average.
Projected snowfall through Saturday morning includes:
50 cm in the Tohoku region.
40 cm in Hokkaido and Niigata Prefectures.
35 cm in the Kanto-Koshin region.
30 cm in the Hokuriku and Tokai regions.
Warnings and Disruptions
The JMA has issued warnings for:
Traffic disruptions due to snow-covered roads.
Accumulated snow on power cables and trees, increasing the risk of damage.
Avalanches in snow-covered areas.
Blizzards, with intensified winds expected along the Sea of Japan coast through Sunday.
Recent Impacts
On Tuesday, heavy snowfall blanketed northern Japan, causing significant travel disruptions:
Japan Airlines canceled 42 flights, affecting 6, 398 passengers.
All Nippon Airways canceled 14 flights, affecting 800 passengers.
Record-Breaking Weather Patterns
This comes after Japan experienced its highest autumn average temperature on record (September to November 2024), at 1.97°C above the baseline, surpassing the previous record by 0.58°C.
The JMA attributes these extremes to global warming and a northward shift in the jet stream, which allowed warm southern air to dominate.