Overview
- Forecasters expect a strong winter pattern Thursday into Friday to bring heavy snowfall mainly along the Sea of Japan side of eastern and western Japan, affecting some lowland areas as well as mountains.
- Projected 24‑hour snowfall could reach about 70 cm in Hokuriku and 40–50 cm in parts of Kinki, with a chance of flurries in central Tokyo on Thursday evening.
- The Meteorological Agency urges caution for transport disruptions and warns of avalanche danger where snow has already piled up from recent storms.
- Operational measures are in place as JR advances final Airport rapid services on Jan. 28–29 and Sapporo begins emergency snow removal on residential streets after the late‑January deluge.
- Broader preparedness and regional contrasts are evident, with Sapporo Medical University Hospital launching remote ICU support for local hospitals and Okinawa seeing earlier forecasts of cloud, rain, and rising coastal waves from a low‑pressure system.