Heavy Snowfall Expected to Hit Japan This Weekend During Elections

JAKARTA - Japan's meteorological agency on Friday predicted heavy snowfall would hit northern and western areas along the Sea of Japan coast until the weekend, ahead of the country's general election (General Election) on Sunday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecast snowstorms in northern Hokkaido, and heavy snowfall in the Chugoku region around Hiroshima on Friday, February 6, as well as warning of possible traffic disruptions.

A rapidly developing low-pressure system has caused strong winter pressure patterns near the archipelago.

On Friday, Hokkaido may be hit by winds of up to 126 kilometers per hour, and 108 kilometers per hour in the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan, the agency said.

During the 24-hour period until 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, Hokkaido is expected to experience snowfall of up to 50 centimeters.

In the next 24 hours until Sunday at 6 a.m. local time, the Hokuriku region in central Japan is expected to experience snowfall with a thickness of up to 70 cm.

Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Chugoku regions may be hit by snowfalls with a thickness of up to 50 cm. Meanwhile, snow up to 40 cm thick is also likely to rain on the Kinki region, around Osaka and Kyoto.

The Kanto-Koshin region, around Tokyo and Nagano, is expected to experience snowfall of up to 20 cm, while the Shikoku island in western Japan may be hit by snowfall of up to 10 cm.