As a strong cold air mass is set to advance over Japan around Jan. 11-12, severe weather is expected across a wide area from the north to western regions, bringing heavy snowfall and powerful winds.
The Japan Meteorological Agency urged the public on Jan. 9 to be alert for traffic disruptions caused by blizzards and considerable snow over the three-day holiday weekend.
According to the agency, a low-pressure system accompanied by a front will move into the northern Sea of Japan on Jan. 10 while developing rapidly.
The strong cold air mass is then expected to push south through Jan. 12, a national holiday, reaching the Pacific side of the archipelago, bringing the risk of heavy snow and sudden wind gusts over a wide area.
Warning-level snowfall is forecast for the Tohoku region. Heavy accumulations are also possible in lowland areas on the Pacific side of western Japan, a region that typically sees little snow.
Up to 50 centimeters of snow is forecast for the Tohoku region in the 24-hour period ending at noon on Jan 11.
The Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki and Chugoku regions may see up to 30 cm.
In the following 24-hour period, leading up to noon on Jan. 12, there is a possibility snow levels could reach 100 cm in Tohoku and 70 cm in Hokuriku. The Hokkaido, Kanto-Koshin, Tokai and Kinki regions, meanwhile, could amass 50 cm.
AloJapan.com