Traffic disruptions to continue in Japan amid heavy snow

The Japan Meteorological Agency says strong winter atmospheric conditions have brought heavy snow to areas mainly on the Sea of Japan side of the country. Snow continues to accumulate, and authorities are warning of impacts on transportation.

The agency says active snow clouds covered the Hokuriku and Kinki regions from Wednesday night through Thursday morning. It says this is due to a phenomenon known as a Japan Sea polar air mass convergence zone, or JPCZ.

The agency issued information on significant heavy snowfall for the prefectures of Ishikawa and Shiga.

Snow accumulation as of 6 p.m. on Thursday was 4.33 meters in Sukayu in the Hakkoda mountain range of Aomori Prefecture, 1.85 meters in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, 1.10 meters in Otaru City, Hokkaido, 46 centimeters in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, and 31 centimeters in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture.

The JPCZ is expected to move north, and active snow clouds may flow into Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region.

During the 24 hours through Friday evening, up to 80 centimeters of snow could fall in Niigata Prefecture, 70 centimeters in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions, 50 centimeters in Hokkaido, Gifu Prefecture and the Kinki region and 40 centimeters in the Chugoku region.

Snow may accumulate even on the Pacific side of Japan, which normally see little. Flat areas in Aichi Prefecture are forecast to get 8 centimeters.

Traffic disruptions will continue on Friday. The operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen line says it is planning to run bullet trains at reduced speeds from the first service of the day, and cautions that delays are possible. Some sections of expressways are closed, and more are possible.

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