Around 900 passengers were stranded overnight through Wednesday at New Chitose Airport as heavy snow and strong winds battered Hokkaido, forcing widespread flight cancellations and delays.
Stranded travelers spent the night on the floor of the airport using mats and blankets provided by airport staff, according to local broadcaster STV.
Snowfall intensified from around midday Tuesday around the airport, prompting the cancellation of 126 flights, including services to and from Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports, New Chitose’s operator Hokkaido Airport said. Both inbound and outbound flights had resumed as of Wednesday morning.
A low-pressure system, currently over the Sea of Okhotsk, has brought wet, heavy snow to much of Hokkaido. Conditions deteriorated rapidly Tuesday afternoon, with a severe blizzard hitting Sapporo and reducing visibility to near zero in some areas. Wind speeds of 106 kilometers per hour were observed at around 5:20 p.m., according to STV.
Ashley Bierma, a coordinator for international relations in the city of Takikawa, around an hour by car from Sapporo, said Tuesday’s whiteout was the worst she had ever experienced.
“This was the first time I experienced not being able to see 6 meters in front of me,” she said. “I’m definitely limiting going outside right now.”
Very strong winds accompanied by snow are expected on Wednesday in the regions of northern Tohoku and Hokuriku, as well as into Thursday in Hokkaido. Authorities have cautioned against venturing outside in blizzards, particularly in coastal areas where high waves are expected.
AloJapan.com