TOKYO - A strong winter-pattern pressure system drove the season’s coldest air across the country on November 18th, making snow and rain more likely along the Japan Sea coast while bringing heavy snow and blizzard conditions to parts of northern Japan, with temperatures falling sharply nationwide and even areas that see sunshine experiencing a biting northerly wind.
Following the arrival of this cold air mass, snow will intensify across northern regions, and visibility is expected to deteriorate in areas affected by blizzards, prompting officials to urge caution over rapidly accumulating snowfall. Snowfall will also begin to spread into mountainous areas of eastern and western Japan through November 19th, leading to additional accumulation at higher elevations. In Hokuriku, heavier rainfall is forecast for some low-lying areas, raising concerns about potential landslides.
From the Kanto region westward, the Pacific side will see intervals of sunshine, yet cloud cover will be more variable than on the previous day. Sudden rain or thunderstorms are also likely in parts of Kanto and Kinki from the evening onward.
Daytime temperatures fell across the country compared with the previous day, with northern Japan and the Japan Sea side experiencing particularly sharp declines. In Sapporo, where snow was likely from the morning, temperatures barely rose and were expected to reach only 1°C. Kanazawa was forecast to reach 11°C, bringing conditions similar to early December. Even in regions with sunny breaks from Kanto westward, temperatures hovered near 15°C, accompanied by a cold northerly wind. With a rapid temperature drop expected tonight, forecasters advised residents to stay warm.
Forecast highs for November 18th (Tuesday) were as follows: Sapporo 1°C, Kushiro 4°C, Aomori 3°C, Morioka 6°C, Sendai 9°C, Niigata 10°C, Nagano 7°C, Kanazawa 11°C, Nagoya 14°C, Tokyo 15°C, Osaka 15°C, Okayama 15°C, Hiroshima 15°C, Matsue 13°C, Kochi 18°C, Fukuoka 12°C, Kagoshima 16°C, and Naha 22°C.
Through Thursday, the cold is expected to intensify, with morning temperatures dropping to around 5°C from Kanto westward. On November 19th, Tokyo is forecast to reach a high of just 13°C, typical for early December. Forecasters urged the public to take precautions against the sudden chill. Conditions are expected to ease over the weekend, with milder daytime temperatures and mostly calm, sunny weather along the Pacific side.
Source: TBS
