Heavy snowfall causes traffic disruption
TOKYO: Snow fell in areas of northern and western Japan facing the Sea of Japan as a cold air mass flowed into the archipelago yesterday, with flights cancelled and the weather agency warning of heavy snow in other areas and traffic disruption due to frozen roads.
Wide areas of the country, including the Pacific side, could see heavy snowfall until this evening, as a low-pressure system near Hokkaido and southern Japan will bring the coldest air of this winter, making atmospheric conditions extremely unstable, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
As the strong winter patterns are expected to take hold through tomorrow, some parts of the country could see their lowest temperatures in a decade, leading to a possibility of snowfall in Tokyo and Osaka, the agency said.
The cold temperature could cause water pipes to freeze and make road surfaces icy.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled more than 120 flights to and from airports facing the Sea of Japan yesterday.
At JR Aomori Station in the northeastern prefecture of Aomori, a 43-yearold company employee who was on a business trip from neighbouring Iwate, said, “I will be careful of unexpected road closures and act quickly.”
In the city of Kagoshima in southwestern Japan, it rained in the morning with snow expected later. A 47-year-old businesswoman heading to work said, “I am worried if I can get home tonight”.
The Hokuriku region in central Japan was predicted to see up to 90 centimetres of snowfall, with 70cm possible in Kanto-Koshin in eastern and central Japan and the Kinki and Chugoku regions in western Japan.
Up to 60 cm of snow is expected in northeastern Tohoku and central Tokai regions.