Tokyo, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on Wednesday that significant snowfall is anticipated across northern and western regions of Japan, particularly in areas adjacent to the Sea of Japan, lasting until Friday. Some locales may also experience exceptionally strong winds mixed with snow.
In the 24-hour period leading up to Thursday morning, Niigata Prefecture, the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions, along with Gifu Prefecture, could receive as much as 70 centimeters of snow. The Chugoku region may see around 50 centimeters, Hokkaido about 40 centimeters, the Kinki region approximately 35 centimeters, Yamaguchi Prefecture and the Shikoku region around 20 centimeters, and northern Kyushu could experience about 5 centimeters, according to the JMA.
During the following 24-hour span leading to Friday morning, 70 centimeters of snow is projected for Niigata Prefecture, the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions, Gifu Prefecture, and the Chugoku region. 50 centimeters is expected in Hokkaido and the Kinki region, 30 centimeters in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the Shikoku region, and 7 centimeters for northern Kyushu, as per the JMA.
Weather authorities have cautioned about potential traffic disruptions and advised the public to be alert for possible power outages due to snow accumulation on power lines, as well as risks of avalanches, strong winds, high waves, and lightning strikes, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
In related news, the JMA revealed on Tuesday that the average temperature across the country for 2024 reached its highest level on record, attributed to global warming and westerly winds.
The average temperature from January to December was 1.48 degrees Celsius above the mean temperature over the previous 30-year period ending in 2020, representing the largest variance since records began in 1898, exceeding the previous year’s record of 1.29 degrees Celsius, according to the JMA.
Record-high average temperatures were noted during autumn last year, following an exceptionally hot summer that matched the previous record set in 2023.
By month, April, July, and October have established record highs, according to the JMA.
Japan has experienced a consistent trend of elevated temperatures in recent years, with the years from 2019 to 2024 being recorded as the six hottest years.
