Heavy snow falls in areas mainly along the Sea of Japan coast (also called the East Sea, especially in Korea), from west to east of Japan, including the Noto Peninsula, a region hit by a powerful earthquake on New Year’s Day.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says these weather conditions are the result ofa powerful cold air mass, combined with a winter-like pressure pattern.
Meteorologists warn of large-scale traffic disruptions after the sudden intensification of snowfall in Fukui and Shiga prefectures.
Since Wednesday morning, trucks have been stuck on the Meishin Expressway, which connects Nagoya to Kobe.
Authorities expect snow to continue Thursday in earthquake-hit areas on Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula. Residents are urged to remain alert to traffic problems and take shelter.
In the 24 hours until Thursday morning, snowfall is expected to reach 90 centimeters in Niigata Prefecture, 80 centimeters in the Kinki region and 70 centimeters in the Hokuriku, Tohoku, Tokai and Chugoku regions.
According to authorities, heavy snowfall could occur even on the plains of the Tokai, Kinki, Shikoku and Kyushu regions, which usually receive very little snow.