Severe blizzards with strong winds are expected to hit areas along the Sea of Japan, as snow is predicted to blanket a wide area from northern to southwestern Japan through Monday.
A strong winter pressure pattern and a cold air mass are bringing snow to regions from Hokkaido through Kyushu.
Winds of 109 kilometers per hour were recorded at Oki Airport in Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, during the three hours through 6 a.m. on Sunday.
During the six hours through 5 a.m., 13 centimeters of snow fell in the city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido.
Up to 80 centimeters of snow may fall in mountainous areas of the Tohoku region and the prefectures of Niigata and Gifu during the 24 hours through Monday morning.
During that period, up to 70 centimeters of snow is forecast for the Hokuriku region, 60 centimeters in the Kinki region, 50 centimeters in the regions of Hokkaido, Kanto-Koshin and Chugoku, and 25 centimeters in the Shikoku region, 15 centimeters in Aichi Prefecture and 10 centimeters in northern Kyushu.
The weather is causing traffic disruptions. Japan Railway companies say some train services have been canceled, mainly in Tohoku and Hokuriku.
All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have canceled some flights since Sunday morning. Many of them are services connecting the Sanin region or Hokuriku with other regions.
The airlines say more flights may be canceled depending on weather conditions.
AloJapan.com