Japan: Widespread disruptions due to winter weather Jan. 25 /update 1

Event

Nearly 2000 people spent the night in train cars January 24-25 as blizzard conditions forced the suspension of rail traffic between Nagoya and Osaka. Tokyo witnessed below freezing temperatures on Thursday, January 25, a first in nearly 50 years. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued heavy snow warnings for the northeastern half of Hokkaido island, as well as for the prefectures of Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, and Ishikawa on Japan’s main Honshu island. Gusts of up to 113 km/h (70 mph) were recorded on Hokkaido, while the heaviest snow in four years battered Tokyo on Monday, causing over 700 traffic accidents.

Snowfall of up to 80 cm (30 in), along with violent surf and blizzard conditions, are forecast for most of Japan’s western coasts through at least Saturday, January 27, with severe wind forecast until January 26.

Context

This is the first series of heavy snow warnings to be issued in Tokyo in four years. In February 2014, Tokyo received 27 cm (11 in) of snow, which paralyzed much of the city’s public transportation services.

Advice

Individuals present in Japan are advised to abide by instructions issued by local authorities and monitor the situation.