Heavy snow is being forecast for wide areas from western to northern Japan from Wednesday to around Sunday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says snow and winds will intensify, mainly in Hokkaido and Tohoku, due to the effects of an approaching low pressure system.
In the three hours until 11 a.m. Tuesday, an instantaneous maximum wind speed of about 118 kilometers per hour was recorded in Cape Erimo in Hokkaido. The gusts reached about 110 kilometers per hour in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture and around 108 kilometers per hour in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.
In the six hours until 11 a.m. Tuesday, 21 centimeters of snowfall was observed in Sarufutsu Village in Hokkaido. Nishikawa Town, in Yamagata Prefecture, and Sekikawa Village in Niigata Prefecture had 19 centimeters.
Snow and powerful gusts are expected to continue, mainly in northern Japan, and blizzards may hit parts of Hokkaido. Weather officials are warning people to be careful of effects on transportation, high waves and flooding from high tides.
The winter-type weather pattern will gradually strengthen and may bring heavy snow, mainly from the northern to western parts of the country, along the coast of the Sea of Japan.
The accumulated snowfall may rise sharply in Niigata Prefecture and in the Hokuriku, Kinki and Chugoku regions.
This is due to the effects of bands of snow clouds created by a Japan Sea polar air mass convergence zone, or JPCZ.
A cold air mass will flow in until around Sunday and the heavy snow is expected to continue for an extended period.
Up to 50 centimeters of snow are forecast in the 24 hours until Wednesday morning in Hokkaido and Tohoku.
The expected snowfall in the 24 hours until Thursday morning is 100 centimeters for Niigata Prefecture, 70 centimeters in Tohoku and Hokuriku, 50 centimeters in Kinki and 40 centimeters in Hokkaido, northern Kanto and Nagano Prefecture. The precipitation may increase afterward.
Heavy snow may fall in flat areas along the coast of the Sea of Japan as well as along the Pacific side of the country, where there is usually little snowfall.
Officials say this may affect transportation and work to remove snow may take longer. They are calling on people to ensure they have adequate provisions ready and to reschedule plans if necessary.
Over 100 flights canceled mainly in northern Japan due to heavy snow
Heavy snow and strong winds have forced airlines in Japan to cancel more than 100 flights on Tuesday, mainly on routes to and from Hokkaido and the Tohoku region in the north.
As of 11 a.m., All Nippon Airways has canceled 52 flights; Japan Airlines 37 flights; Peach Aviation 12 flights; Fuji Dream Airlines four flights; and Airdo and Jetstar Japan two flights each.
The carriers are urging people to check the latest information on their websites, as additional cancellations and delays are possible if weather conditions worsen.
AloJapan.com