Strong winter-like atmospheric pressure continues; on the Sea of Japan side, be wary of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow and blizzards

2026/02/08 07:04

The area around Japan has a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. Heavy snow is falling on the Sea of Japan side from northern Japan to western Japan, and there are places on the Pacific side as well.
As of 6:45 a.m., heavy snow warnings have been announced for Aomori, Chiba, Tochigi, Toyama, Nagano, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures.
Also, a blizzard has been announced in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Today, the 8th (Sunday), even stronger cold air will flow into the sky, and a strong winter-like pressure pattern will continue. Additionally, atmospheric conditions are expected to be extremely unstable. Tomorrow, the 9th (Monday), the winter-like pressure pattern will loosen from the west.

From northern Japan to western Japan, please be on guard for traffic disruptions and high waves due to heavy snow and blizzards today (Sunday), the 8th. In areas with heavy snowfall from northern to western Japan, you need to be careful about avalanches caused by new snow falling in clusters, snow accreting on power lines and trees, and snow falling from roofs. Also, from eastern to western Japan, especially on the Sea of Japan side, please be careful of strong gusts of wind that can cause lightning strikes and tornadoes.




[Snow Forecast]
From northern Japan to western Japan, snowfall will continue until tomorrow 9th (Monday), mainly along the Sea of Japan side, and there will be heavy snowfall not only along the mountains and mountainous areas, but also on the flatlands. There is a risk of heavy snowfall today, the 8th (Sunday), when even stronger cold air will flow into the sky. There are places, mainly from northern Japan to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side, where snowfall is significantly higher than normal, and there is a risk that snowfall will increase further. In addition, heavy snow is expected to occur in some places on the Pacific side, where there is usually little snow.

#Expected amount of snow (in places with a lot of snow)
+Expected 24-hour snowfall amount by dawn on the 9th (Monday)
Hokkaido region 40cm
Tohoku region 50cm
Kanto-Koshin region 40cm
Hokuriku region 80cm
Tokai Region: 50cm
Kinki region: 70cm
Chugoku region: 60cm
Shikoku region: 25cm
Northern Kyushu region 40cm

[Wind forecast]
Today, the 8th (Sunday), there will be heavy snow in some places, mainly on the Sea of Japan side.
#Expected wind strength
+Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected today, the 8th (Sunday)
Tohoku region 20m/s (30m/s)
Northern Kyushu Region 20m/s (30m/s)

[Wave Forecast]
There will be warning level high waves in some places until tomorrow the 9th (Monday).
#Expected wave height
+Expected wave height from today 8th (Sunday) to tomorrow 9th (Monday)
Izu Islands 6m
Ogasawara Islands 6m
Hokuriku region 5m with undulations

Today's weather on the 8th (Sunday): Snow in the Kanto region until morning; heavy snow warning widespread on the Sea of Japan side

2026/02/08 06:40

Today, the 8th (Sunday), a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will strengthen near Japan, and the cold air in the sky will reach its peak. On the Sea of Japan side, vigilance against heavy snow continues to be necessary. In addition, the southern Kanto region will also experience snowy weather until around noon.



Snow will fall mainly in areas along the Sea of Japan from northern Japan to western Japan, and it will temporarily become heavier in some places. There is a risk of heavy snow not only along the mountains but also on the flatlands. There is a risk that heavy snow will return to areas where snowfall is higher than normal due to previous heavy snowfalls, so please be careful of snow falling from roofs, avalanches, and traffic disruptions due to heavy snow.

Snow clouds are also moving in on the Pacific side of western Japan, and there is a risk of heavy snow even in areas that usually don't get much snow, so please check the latest information such as traffic information.

The Kanto region will experience snowy weather until the afternoon. Snow has fallen even in the southern Kanto region, where there is usually little snow. If you are going to vote in the House of Representatives election, please be careful where you step. In addition, if you plan to go out by car, please change to winter tires and be careful, such as checking traffic information.
In the afternoon, there will be many places where the weather will stop, and there will be some places where it will be sunny.

The sky in Okinawa is dominated by clouds. There is a possibility of rain later in the evening, so it is a good idea to carry a foldable umbrella.

[Is it snowing in Tokyo's 23 wards] Possibility of warning-level heavy snow tomorrow, the 8th (Sun). Heavy snow on election day. What to watch out for

2026/02/07 12:03

From today, February 7th (Saturday) to tomorrow, February 8th (Sunday), a
winter-like pressure pattern will strengthen near Japan, and strong cold air will flow into the sky.

Through tomorrow, the 8th (Sunday), there will be heavy snow across a wide area on the Sea of Japan side, and
It is likely that there will be heavy snowfall in some places on the Pacific side, such as the Kanto region.

There is a risk of snow accumulating in central Tokyo, including the 23 wards of Tokyo.



Looking at the snow, rain, and wind forecast for the evening of today, the 7th (Saturday)
There are active rain and snow clouds in the Sea of Japan associated with the JPCZ (Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone).

In addition, snow clouds will spread north of the front in the Kanto area, and snow will fall in many places in the plains of the southern Kanto region.


JPCZ is a convergence zone created when
cold air currents (northern winds) are divided into two by a high mountain in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, and then merge again over the Sea of Japan.

As the winds collide and converge, active
band-shaped snow clouds (rain clouds) are occurring over the Sea of Japan.
In areas where this convergence zone is oriented, the amount of snowfall and
snowfall may increase rapidly.



As of tomorrow, the 8th (Sunday), the snow will become heavier in the San'in and Kinki regions, which JPCZ is oriented to, and it will continue to snow in the Kanto area, which is an extension of that, and
is expected to continue to snow for a long time from today to tomorrow.


As a result, snow may continue to fall,
with the possibility of snow accumulating even in central Tokyo.




The amount of snow is expected to rapidly increase to 100 to 140 cm in some places from the next day until the morning of the 9th (Monday).

Additionally, 3 centimeters of snow is expected to fall in Tokyo's 23 wards over the next 48 hours.
Even 1cm of snow can disrupt transportation and cause chaos in the city center.

If the temperature stays lower than expected, there is a possibility of heavy snowfall.



Looking at the areas where there is a possibility of warning-level heavy snow,
there are areas where the possibility of heavy snow warning is high in the San'in and Kinki areas from tonight to tomorrow,
and other areas along the Sea of Japan and Kanto regions are also expected to have a medium chance.

Tomorrow, the 8th (Sun), is voting day for the House of Representatives election, but there are some places where people have to go to the polling stations despite poor footing due to heavy snow.



For those on the Pacific side, such as the Kanto region, who are not used to snow, please
be especially careful to avoid falls in slippery areas.

This includes crosswalks, bus and taxi pick-up and drop-off locations, sidewalks where cars enter and exit,
tiled underground malls, entrances and exits inside stores, etc.

Also, when you enter a convenience store or other store, the soles of your shoes may become slippery due to melted snow, so be sure to remove any snow at the entrance before going inside.

Increasing cold air, winter-like atmospheric pressure distribution, and risk of snowfall even on the Pacific side

2026/02/07 10:17

There is a well-developed low pressure system with a front near the Chishima Islands, and it is moving northeast.
Also, a front is extending from the southern coast of Japan to Okinawa.
On the other hand, there is a high pressure system over the continent that is protruding to the east.

Currently, there are places where it is snowing and raining on the Sea of Japan side from Hokkaido to San'in and northern Kyushu, and rain and snow on the Pacific side from Kanto to Shikoku and Okinawa.




The atmospheric conditions are expected to become extremely unstable as winter-like pressure patterns intensify and strong cold air flows into the upper atmosphere until the day after tomorrow, the 9th (Monday).
On the Sea of Japan side, there is a risk of severe weather with snow, strong winds, blizzards, and heavy snow.
On the Pacific side, clouds will spread, and there will be places where it will snow or rain.

In the Chugoku and Kinki regions, please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow on the 8th, and from northern Japan to eastern Japan, please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow.
Also, please be careful of strong gusts of wind, such as lightning and tornadoes, especially on the Sea of Japan side of western Japan.




###Snow Forecast
From northern to western Japan, snowfall will continue until the 9th, mainly along the Sea of Japan side, and there will be heavy snowfall not only along the mountains and mountainous areas, but also on the flatlands.
Especially on the 8th, as even stronger cold air flows into the sky, there is a risk of heavy snowfall, and heavy snow is expected to occur in some places even on the Pacific side, where there is usually little snow.

The expected amount of snowfall in the 24-hour period from 6 o'clock on the 7th to 6 o'clock on the 8th is high in some places,
Hokkaido region 50 cm
Tohoku region 40 cm
Mountainous area in northern Kanto region 10 cm
Kanto Flatlands in the northern part of the region 10cm
Hakone to Tama and Chichibu regions 10cm
Flatlands in the southern Kanto region 10cm
Koshin region 20cm
Hokuriku region 70cm
br Northern Kinki Mountains 50cm
Northern Kinki Plains 20cm
Kinki Chubu Mountains Land 50cm
Kinki Chubu plains 5cm
Southern Kinki Mountains 1 cm
Chugoku region 60 cm
Shikoku mountainous region 10 cm
Shikoku region flatland 2 cm
Northern Kyushu region 20 cm

Then at 6 o'clock on the 8th The expected amount of snowfall in the next 24 hours from 6:00 on the 9th is expected to be high in some places, including the Hokkaido region, 40 cm
, and the Tohoku region. Directions 50cm
Mountainous areas in the northern Kanto region 40cm
Flatlands in the northern Kanto region 7 cm
Hakone to Tama and Chichibu regions 5 cm
Flatlands in the southern Kanto region 7 cm
Izu Islands 5cm
Koshinji Direction 40cm
Hokuriku region 70cm
Tokai region 40cm
Kinki region 70 cm
Chugoku region 70 cm
Shikoku mountainous area 20 cm
Shikoku Regional flat land 7cm
Northern Kyushu region 30cm

In the Koku and Kinki regions, please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow on the 8th, and from northern Japan to eastern Japan, please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow.
There are places where snowfall is significantly higher than normal, mainly from northern Japan to the Sea of Japan side of western Japan, and there is a risk that snowfall will increase further.
In areas with heavy snowfall in northern and western Japan, be careful of avalanches caused by new snow falling in clusters, snow accreting on power lines and trees, and snow falling from roofs.
Also, please be careful of strong gusts of wind, such as lightning and tornadoes, especially on the Sea of Japan side of western Japan.
If there are signs of a developing cumulonimbus cloud approaching, please take every precaution to ensure your safety, such as moving inside a building.

Rapidly developing low pressure system. Hokkaido is on alert for blizzard. Snowfall is expected on the 7th to 8th, not only on the Sea of Japan side but also on the flatlands on the Pacific side.

2026/02/06 08:02

Today, the 6th (Friday), a low pressure system accompanied by a front is rapidly developing and moving near Hokkaido. The low pressure system is expected to continue to develop and move through the Sea of Okhotsk.



In Hokkaido, a rapidly developing low pressure system is causing extremely strong winds comparable to a typhoon, and there is a risk of a blizzard so strong that visibility will be completely impaired. There will be places on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region, such as Aomori and Akita prefectures, where strong winds will cause blizzards. It is expected that there will be some swells along the coast.
Please be careful of traffic problems caused by blizzards and snowdrifts.




After the low pressure system passes, extremely cold air will flow into the sky near Honshu, creating a strong winter-like pressure pattern. Snow will continue to fall from the 7th (Saturday) tomorrow to the 8th (Sunday) on the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, with localized snowfall becoming heavier.
There is a risk of heavy snow not only along the mountains but also on the flatlands.
On the 9th (Monday), the snowfall will start to calm down in western Japan, including the San'in area, but from Hokuriku to Hokkaido, it is likely that snow will continue and snowfall will increase further in some places.

Also, even in the Pacific Ocean region west of Kanto, where there is usually little snow, there will be places where it will snow due to pressure troughs and locally occurring fronts. It will snow not only along the mountains and in the mountains, but also on the plains, and there will likely be some places where there will be heavy snowfall.
In the Kanto region, there will be snow and rain in some places in the plains of Tokyo from the 7th to the 8th, and there is a risk of snow falling even in the plains of Tokyo's 23 wards. Please pay attention to the latest weather and traffic information, as transportation may be significantly affected.

Latest 1-month forecast The season is expected to move towards spring, becoming less susceptible to the effects of cold air; continue to be careful of drought on the Pacific side

2026/02/05 21:29

On the 5th (Thursday), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the latest monthly weather forecast for the next month.



According to the forecast results from the forecast model, sea level pressure is expected to be higher than normal around the Aleutian Sea, and the strength of the continental Siberian High is expected to be weaker than normal.
The strength of both the Aleutian Low and the Siberian High is expected to be weak, so the winter-like pressure pattern will not last long.
Also, looking at the forecast for the average temperature at around 1,500 meters above the ground, the area around Japan is expected to be higher than normal, mainly from northern to eastern Japan, so it will gradually become less susceptible to the effects of cold air.



At the beginning of the period, there will be many snowy and rainy days mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan.Particularly on the 7th and 8th, as strong cold air moves southward, there is a risk of heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side. In addition, there is a possibility of snow falling on flat areas from eastern Japan to the Pacific side of western Japan, so caution is required.

From around mid-February, the weather will gradually become less susceptible to cold air, and high temperatures are expected to prevail from northern Japan to western Japan. There will be fewer snowy and rainy days from northern Japan to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side compared to normal years, and the season will move from winter to spring.
In areas with heavy snowfall, the snow melts as the temperature rises, so be careful of deteriorating road conditions and avalanches due to melting snow.

On the other hand, the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan is expected to continue to be less affected by low-pressure systems, and is expected to continue to have sunny days. Some places have already experienced record low rainfall, but the days with little precipitation will continue, and the drought will continue. Please try to conserve water as much as possible.
Also, on days when the weather is sunny and the temperature is high, cedar pollen is more likely to fly. The full season will begin in some places around mid-February, when temperatures begin to rise. If you are sensitive, please take precautions as soon as possible.

Tomorrow, the 6th, will be very stormy in Hokkaido; the Sea of ??Japan side will be warned of heavy snow until around the 8th (Sunday).

2026/02/05 07:46

Tomorrow, the 6th (Friday), a low-pressure system in the Sea of Japan will rapidly develop as it passes through the Hokkaido region and heads toward the waters near the Chishima Islands. After that, a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern is expected to occur near Japan until around the 8th (Sunday), and strong cold air is expected to flow in.
As a result, the Hokkaido region will experience heavy rain and heavy snow in some places due to stronger snow and wind tomorrow, the 6th (Friday). Be wary of blizzards, and be careful of heavy snow and high waves.

Furthermore, snowfall will continue from the 6th (Friday) to the 8th (Sunday) tomorrow, mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, and around the 8th (Sunday), when even stronger cold air will flow into the skies near Japan, there is a risk that the snowfall will intensify and become warning-level heavy snow. Please be careful of heavy snow from the 7th (Sat) to the 8th (Sun). There are places, mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern and western Japan, where snowfall is significantly higher than normal. We also need to be careful about increasing snowfall and the occurrence of avalanches along the mountains. Also, be careful of snow accretion on power lines and trees, lightning strikes, and gusts of wind.




#Expected wind strength
+Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected for tomorrow 6th (Friday)
Hokkaido region 25m/s (35m/s)
Tohoku region 18m/s (30m/s)
+Maximum wind speed expected for tomorrow 7th (Saturday) (Maximum instantaneous wind speed)
Hokkaido region 18m/s (30m/s)

#Expected wave height
+Tomorrow 6th (Friday) Expected wave height
Hokkaido region 5m
Tohoku region 5m

#Expected amount of snow (in areas with a lot)
+24-hour snowfall forecast by dawn on Saturday the 7th
Hokkaido region 50cm
Tohoku region 40cm
br Hokuriku region 30cm
+24-hour snowfall forecast by dawn on the 8th (Sunday)
Hokkaido region 40cm
Tohoku region 50cm
Hokuriku region 70cm
Kinki region 30cm
Chugoku region 40cm
Since the strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will continue thereafter, heavy snowfall will continue mainly from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to western Japan, and there is a risk that snow accumulation will increase further.

There will be places where it snows, even in western Japan and the Pacific side of eastern Japan, where there is usually little snow. If you are planning to go out, please check the latest traffic and weather information as transportation may be affected.

Today's weather on the 5th (Thursday): The wind and snow are gradually increasing in northern Japan, and dry and sunny conditions continue from eastern Japan to Shikoku.

2026/02/05 06:27

Today, the 5th (Thursday), a low pressure system is expected to develop as it moves through the Sea of Japan. Rain and snow will spread across northern Japan, and the weather is likely to become increasingly rough. The Pacific side will continue to be sunny and dry.



The weather is going downhill in northern Japan due to the effects of low pressure. There will be periods of sunshine in the morning, but there is a risk that rain and snow will start in the evening, and the weather may become rougher later in the evening. It is necessary to be careful of worsening visibility due to blizzards and disasters caused by melting snow during the day.

The Kanto region will be sunny and the sky will be blue. There will be periods of cloudy weather in the Tokai, Hokuriku, Kinki and Shikoku regions, but it is expected to be sunny in many places.
The Pacific side continues to be dry, so please be careful when handling fire.

The sky in China and Kyushu is dominated by clouds. Even if there is little sunlight, the cold during the day will be modest.
It is expected that there will be many sunny places in Okinawa.

Temperatures will be high from Tohoku to Kyushu, and it will be as sunny as March. It looks like it will be a relatively comfortable experience during the day.

Typhoon No. 2 (Pena) has occurred. We will be heading to the Philippines in the future.

2026/02/04 22:34

Typhoon No. 2 (Pena) occurred in the east of Mindanao Island in the Philippines at 21:00 on Wednesday the 4th. This will be the first typhoon to occur in February.

#Typhoon No. 2 4th (Wed) 21:00
==================
Center location East of Mindanao
Movement West 10km/h
Central pressure 1000 hPa
Maximum wind speed 18 m/s (near the center)
Maximum instantaneous wind speed 25 m/s
==================



Typhoon No. 2 is expected to continue moving westward and passing through the Philippines. After that, it is expected to weaken and have no impact on Japan.

Sea surface temperatures are higher than normal in the east of Japan, and drift ice is moving south in the Sea of ??Okhotsk [Ocean summary January 25-31, 2026]

2026/02/04 16:55

Abashiri City, Hokkaido, announced on January 22nd that the drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk was visible to the naked eye from land.

Starting this season, the observation point has been changed to the city's tourist facility Okhotsk Ryuhyokan, so a simple comparison cannot be made, but
this year's observation date was the same as the average for the past 30 years,
24 days earlier than last year, which was the slowest since statistics began in 1946.

At the end of January, the drift ice is moving further south and you can see that it is approaching the shore.



# Pressure distribution and waves
From the 25th to the 26th, winter-like pressure distribution continued.
In the southern part of Kanto near the low pressure system and front, there were large wave heights of more than 6 meters.

From the 27th to the 29th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front moved from south of Kyushu, through south of Japan, and then east of Japan.
The low pressure system did not develop much, and the waves on the Pacific side did not increase that much.
In the waters of Japan, winds were strong from the north, and the waves rose to around 3m in height.

A strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern continued from the 29th to the 31st.
Wave heights were around 3m in wide areas of the Japanese sea area,
Wave heights of over 4m on the Pacific side were observed in areas east of Kanto, mainly on the 30th.
On the 31st, a low pressure system accompanied by a front formed in the Nansei Islands and moved eastward.
Wave height in the East China Sea is around 3m.



#Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperatures in the Japanese waters continue to be at or below normal in the northern region.
In the central and western regions, sea areas remained at or slightly above normal.
The East China Sea continues to be at or slightly above normal levels.
The southern part of Japan was at a normal level, and the sea area from the Tokai coast to the Kanto coast continued to be slightly lower than normal.
Off the coast of Sanriku, the sea area continued to be higher than normal or significantly higher, with temperatures up to 4 C higher than normal.
The temperature off the southeast coast of Hokkaido was higher than normal, or significantly higher, with a maximum of 3 C higher.
In the Sea of Okhotsk, sea ice (black shaded area) is moving south.