Blizzards Likely To Hit Hokkaido
Japanese weather officials are forecasting blizzards for the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido from Thursday to Friday.
Japan Meteorological Agency officials say a rapidly developing low-pressure system is expected to reach off Hokkaido, and another is approaching northeastern Japan on Thursday.
They say an air mass with a temperature below minus 33 degrees Celsius is likely to flow in over northern and eastern Japan at a height of 5,000 meters.
The officials say extremely strong winds will likely hit northern Japan, bringing blizzards mainly to Hokkaido.
Maximum wind speeds are expected to be 90 kilometers per hour in Hokkaido, nearly 83 kilometers per hour in the Hokuriku region and 72 kilometers per hour in the Tohoku region.
Maximum instantaneous wind speeds are likely to be from 108 to 126 kilometers per hour.
Snow is expected to become intense mainly on the Pacific coast of Hokkaido.
Up to 70 centimeters of snow is expected in the 24 hours till Thursday evening. Another 40 to 60 centimeters may fall in the 24 hours till Friday evening.
Agency officials are warning of traffic disruption including vehicles stuck in heavy snow. They also say wet, heavy snow may accumulate on electric cables and trees, and affect agricultural facilities.
