Average temperature is higher than normal nationwide. Precipitation on the Pacific side is higher than normal due to the influence of low pressure (weather summary from December 21st to December 31st, 2025)

2026/01/01 08:00

This is a summary of the weather for this period (December 7th to December 13th, 2025).

#Summary of the weather for this period (December 21st to December 27th)
During this period, low and high pressure systems alternated every few days, and the winter-like pressure distribution did not last long. Warm air moving toward low pressure and fronts easily entered the area, and the influence of cold air moving south was relatively weak. As a result, average temperatures in many places across the country were above normal.

Precipitation was above normal in parts of northern Japan and on the Sea of Japan side of western Japan, which were susceptible to the effects of warm, humid air moving toward low pressure systems and fronts, and was significantly above normal in some places in eastern Japan and western Japan on the Pacific side. In Osaka, the total rainfall during the period was more than four times the average.

Sunshine hours tended to be below normal on the Sea of Japan side, as there was a period affected by strong cold air associated with winter-like atmospheric pressure patterns. On the other hand, the Pacific side was susceptible to the effects of moist air associated with low pressure systems and fronts, so temperatures were well below normal, especially in eastern Japan, Okinawa, and Amami.



#Characteristics of pressure distribution
On the 21st, a cold front extended from the sea near Chishima to the Hokuriku region and passed near Honshu. On the southern coast of Honshu, a low pressure system accompanied by a front is moving eastward. The southern coast low pressure system merged with a cold front on the night of the 21st, and a temporary winter-like pressure pattern formed near Honshu on the 22nd. On the 23rd, the area around Honshu was covered with high pressure, and the pressure pattern of high in the west and low in the east became loose. A low-pressure system accompanied by a front moved eastward near Northeastern China, and the front remained stationary from central China to the Yellow Sea. On the 24th, two low pressure systems accompanied by fronts moved eastward near Sakhalin and the Sea of Japan. A new low pressure system has formed over the western coast of Kyushu and is moving eastward along the southern coast of Honshu. On the 25th, a new low pressure system formed in the western Japan Sea and moved eastward. The low pressure system accompanying the front rapidly developed as it moved northeast off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido until the 26th, forming a strong winter-like pressure pattern near Honshu. On the 27th, a high pressure system extended from the continent, and the winter-like pressure pattern loosened from the west. In northern Japan, the isobar lines are closely spaced, and strong winds blow from the west.

#Precipitation
On the 21st, it rained widely across the country due to the influence of a cold front and a low pressure system on the south coast. Heavy rain was observed in Nagasaki and Hachijojima. On the 22nd, a temporary winter-like pressure pattern formed near Honshu, and strong cold air in the upper atmosphere moved southward. Snow intensified in northern Japan in the morning, with 14 cm of snow falling over three hours in Utoro, Shari Town, Hokkaido. On the 23rd, a mobile anticyclone covered the area around Honshu, but from around the evening it rained on the Pacific side of western Japan due to the influence of moist air behind the anticyclone. On the 24th, it rained over a wide area due to a front moving near Japan and a low pressure system. Heavy rain in Aji, Shima City, Mie Prefecture, with an hourly rainfall of 37.0 mm. On the 25th, the area around Honshu gradually shifted to a strong winter-type atmospheric pressure pattern, and rain gradually turned to snow in Hokkaido, Tohoku, San'in, and northern Kyushu. First snow observed in Fukuoka and Nagasaki. On the 26th, due to a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, snow became heavier and the weather became rough from northern Japan to Hokuriku and the Sanin region. A blizzard warning has been issued in parts of Hokkaido. On the 27th, the snow became heavier on the Japan Sea side in the morning, with Kanazawa experiencing its first snowfall of the season and Choshi experiencing its first snowfall.

#Temperature
On the 21st, temperatures rose in various places due to the influence of warm air moving south toward the center of the low pressure system. In the Tohoku region, 13 locations recorded the highest daily temperature ever recorded in December. On the 22nd, cold air in the upper atmosphere moved south due to a temporary winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. Temperatures dropped significantly in northern Japan and Hokuriku, with Fudai Village in Iwate Prefecture recording a temperature of 5.5 C, nearly 16 C lower than the previous day. On the 23rd, it was extremely cold in the morning due to the influence of cold air in the upper atmosphere, and in Morioka the morning minimum temperature was -6.0c, the lowest of the season. On the 24th, warm air flowed toward low pressure systems and fronts, and temperatures in many places in western Japan, Hokuriku, and northern Japan were above normal. On the other hand, in the Kanto region, the rise in temperature is slow due to the influence of cold air, with the maximum temperature in central Tokyo reaching 8.0c. On the 25th, daytime temperatures were near normal in many places, but due to the effects of cold air, the temperature cooled down into the night, and on the 26th it became midwinter cold across the country. The weather is getting colder, especially in western Japan, with the highest temperature in Fukuoka reaching 5.7c. On the 27th, the midwinter cold continued nationwide, with the highest temperature in Sapporo being -5.2c and 6.4c in central Tokyo, the coldest of the season.

Beware of heavy snow during the New Year, especially on the Sea of Japan side; snow may also fall on the flatlands of eastern and western Japan on the Pacific side on the 2nd

2025/12/31 20:42

Near Honshu, a winter-like pressure pattern with strong cold air in the upper atmosphere is expected to gradually strengthen. The winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will continue until around the 3rd, and there will be a need to be on guard against heavy snow, especially in areas from northern Japan to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side.




Tomorrow, the 1st (Thursday), heavy snow and rain is expected from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region. In particular, belt-shaped snow clouds are expected to form in the Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone (JPCZ), an area where seasonal winds collide, and will continue to flow into the Hokuriku area. The location of the JPCZ is expected to gradually move south toward the Sea of Japan side of western Japan through the night of tomorrow, and the snow is expected to spread to the northern Kinki region and the shadow of the mountains.



The peak of snow is expected to last from the 2nd to the 3rd. Looking at the forecast for cold air at an altitude of approximately 5,000 meters above the sky on the 2nd (Friday), very strong cold air of -36 C or lower is expected to move south from northern Japan over Hokuriku. Heavy snowfall will occur mainly from northern Japan to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side, and there will be places where snowfall will increase even in flat areas.
Also, on the 2nd, it will snow from eastern Japan to the Pacific side of western Japan, mainly in the mountains, and there will likely be some places where it will snow on the plains. Snow will accumulate in the mountains of central and southern Kinki, where there is usually little snow, and even in the mountains of Shikoku, around 20 cm of snow could fall over a 24-hour period from the 2nd to the 3rd. Please be aware of traffic disruptions caused by heavy snow and the impact on transportation, and be sure to check the latest information.



In the Kanto region, on the 2nd, due to the influence of a localized front that will form over the eastern seaboard of Kanto, there is a possibility that snow will fall even in the southern plains from the evening to night. The period of snowfall is expected to be short, but there are likely to be some places where it will snow. When driving at night, please be careful of deteriorating road conditions.

Sea surface temperature in the Sea of ??Japan up to 4c higher than normal [Ocean summary December 21-27, 2025]

2025/12/31 14:52

This is the ocean summary for December 21-27, 2025.



#Pressure distribution and waves
On the 21st, fronts and low pressure systems passed near Japan.
Wave heights increased to over 3 meters in the central and western parts of the Japan Sea, the East China Sea, and east of Kanto to off the coast of Sanriku.

On the 22nd, there was a temporary winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, but at night it was covered with high pressure, and the high waves from the west subsided.

On the 23rd and 24th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front passed near Japan.
Due to southerly winds blowing into the low pressure area, waves rose to around 3m in height off the Tokai coast.

From the 25th to the 26th, a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern occurred near Japan.
The isobars are crowded, the northerly wind is strong, and the sea area around Japan is wide with wave heights of 4 meters or more.

On the 27th, a high pressure system overtook itself from the continent.
The waves from the west had subsided, but the barges off the Sanriku coast continued.



#Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperatures in the Japanese waters are higher than normal or are expanding in areas where they are significantly higher. The temperature was up to 4 C higher than normal.

In the East China Sea, areas slightly higher than normal have expanded.
South of Japan, the sea area remains at normal levels,
Off the Tokai Sea, the area below normal levels has shrunk.

Off the coast of Sanriku, sea conditions continue to be higher than normal in the north and lower than normal in the south.

The waters off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido and around the Kuril Islands continue to be at or below normal.
The Sea of Okhotsk continued to be at normal levels.

[First sunrise 2026] Can you see it Map: The closer you are to the Pacific Ocean, the more likely you are to see it. The time of the first sunrise in each region

2025/12/31 11:46

Tomorrow, January 1, 2026, a winter-like pressure pattern is expected to strengthen near Japan.



Strong cold air will flow into the sky, and snow and rain will fall on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku.
Also, there are a lot of clouds in the Nansei Islands such as Okinawa, and there are likely to be some places where it will rain.



At the time of the first sunrise (around 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.), there are many places on the Pacific side of
from northern Japan to western Japan that will be sunny, so there are likely to be many places where you can see the first sunrise of the year.

The Pacific side of Tohoku and the Pacific side of the Tokai and Kinki regions will be cloudy in some parts, but
There are likely to be places where you can see the first sunrise of the year through the gaps in the clouds.

However, cold winds are expected to blow strongly even on the Pacific side, where it is likely to be sunny and see the first sunrise of the year.

Also, the sunrise time is the coldest time of the day, so when you go to see the first sunrise of the year, please be sure to take adequate measures to protect yourself from the cold and wind.



#Time of the first sunrise in various places#
Place name Prefecture Time (hours: minutes)
Sapporo Hokkaido 7:06
Nemuro Hokkaido 6:50
Aomori Aomori Prefecture 7:01
Morioka Iwate Prefecture 6:56
Sendai Miyagi Prefecture 6:53
Akita Akita Prefecture 7:00
Yamagata Yamagata Prefecture 6:55
Fukushima Fukushima Prefecture 6:53
Mito Ibaraki Prefecture 6:49
Utsunomiya Tochigi Prefecture 6:52
Maebashi Gunma Prefecture 6:55
Saitama Saitama Prefecture 6:51
Chiba Chiba Prefecture 6:49
Tokyo Tokyo 6:51
Ogasawara Chichijima Tokyo 6:20
Yokohama Kanagawa Prefecture 6:50
Niigata Niigata Prefecture 7:00
Toyama Toyama Prefecture 7:03
Kanazawa Ishikawa Prefecture 7:05
Fukui Fukui Prefecture 7:06
Kofu Yamanashi Prefecture 6:55
Nagano Nagano Prefecture 6:59
Gifu Gifu Prefecture 7:02
Shizuoka Shizuoka Prefecture 6:54
Nagoya Aichi Prefecture 7:01
Tsu Mie Prefecture 7:01
Otsu Shiga Prefecture 7:04
Kyoto Kyoto 7:05
Osaka 7:05
Kobe Hyogo 7:06
Nara Nara 7:04
Wakayama Wakayama 7:05
Tottori Tottori 7:12
Matsue Shimane 7:17
Okayama Okayama 7:11
Hiroshima Hiroshima 7:16
Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Prefecture 7:20
Tokushima Tokushima Prefecture 7:07
Takamatsu Kagawa Prefecture 7:10
Matsuyama Ehime Prefecture 7:14
Kochi Kochi Prefecture 7:10
Fukuoka Fukuoka Prefecture 7:23
Saga Saga Prefecture 7:22
Nagasaki Nagasaki Prefecture 7:23
Kumamoto Kumamoto Prefecture 7:19
Oita Oita Prefecture 7:17
Miyazaki Miyazaki Prefecture 7:14
Kagoshima Kagoshima Prefecture 7:17
Naha Okinawa Prefecture 7:17
Ishigaki Island Okinawa Prefecture 7:27


#Ranking of the first sunrise time in Japan#
(Only in places where people live)

Ranking Place name Time (hours: minutes)
1st place Ogasawara Hahajima 6:20
2nd Ogasawara Chichijima 6:20
3rd Mt. Fuji 6:42 Fastest among Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
4th Aogashima 6:42
5th Hachijojima 6:44
6th Eastern tip of Etorofu Island (Northern Territories) 6:44
7th Mt. Tsukuba 6:45
8th place Inubosaki 6:46 The fastest in the flatlands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu
9th place Swiss Sky Tree 6:46
10th place East end of Shikotan Island (Northern Territories) 6:46
(*Refer to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan website/excerpt)

Strong cold air moving south; warning level of heavy snowfall in the Tohoku region during the New Year holidays

2025/12/31 08:25

The area around Japan has a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, with snow and rain falling from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to Hokuriku.
From now on, winter-like atmospheric pressure patterns are expected to continue around Japan until January 2nd (Friday). Cold air with temperatures below -33c will flow into the Tohoku region at an altitude of 5,000m.
As a result, there are places in the Tohoku region that will experience heavy snowfall, and if the cold air in the upper atmosphere becomes stronger than expected, or if snow clouds that have developed continue to cover the same area, there is a possibility of heavy snowfall reaching warning level.

In the Tohoku region, from the afternoon of today, January 31st, to the late evening of tomorrow, January 1st (Thursday), please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow, falling snow from roofs, damage to buildings and agricultural facilities, etc., and be careful of snow accretion on power lines and trees, and avalanches.



#Forecasted amount of snow (in places with a lot of snow)
+Forecasted snowfall amount for 24 hours by dawn on January 1st (Thursday) tomorrow
Tohoku Sea of Japan side, along the mountains 70cm
Tohoku Sea of Japan side, flat land 50cm
Tohoku Pacific side, along the mountains 70cm
Tohoku Taihei Ocean side, flat land, 40cm
, 24-hour snowfall expected by dawn on January 2nd (Friday)
, Tohoku Sea of Japan side, along the mountains, 50cm
br Tohoku Sea of Japan side flat land 30cm
Tohoku Pacific side mountainside 40cm
Tohoku Pacific side flat land 20cm

Today's 31st (Wednesday) New Year's Eve weather Snow and rain from northern Japan to Hokuriku, sunny in many places on the Pacific side

2025/12/31 06:47

Today, the 31st (Wednesday), New Year's Eve, the area around Japan is expected to have a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, and strong cold air is expected to move southward in the upper atmosphere. The sky will be prone to snow and rain, mainly along the Sea of Japan side. It seems that there are many places on the Pacific side that will be dry and sunny.



There will be intermittent snow and rain from northern Japan to Hokuriku, mainly on the Sea of Japan side. It looks like there will be some places where the rain will become stronger temporarily. Please be careful of sudden increases in snowfall along the mountains. The winds are strong, and there are some places where it snows, especially along the coast, so you need to be careful about the deteriorating visibility.
Although there are many sunny places on the Pacific side of northern Japan, there is a possibility of snow showers, so please be careful of changes in the sky.

From the Kanto region to the west, sunlight will reach mainly on the Pacific side. As cold air flows into the sky, temperatures are expected to drop in many places compared to the previous day, even in sunny areas. It can get very cold at night, so if you are celebrating New Year's Eve outdoors, please take proper measures to protect yourself from the cold.
There are places on the Sea of Japan side of western Japan where it snows at night, so if you're going to get home late, it's a good idea to bring a folding umbrella.

Okinawa is likely to have a rainy New Year's Eve due to the effects of low pressure and humid air. Please bring rain gear when going out.

[New Year's Cold Wave] Warning-level heavy snowfall on the third day. Snow on the Pacific side as well. Affects U-turns. Can you see the first sunrise

2025/12/30 12:27

#Weather points for the year-end and New Year holidays#
+New Year's Eve~ Cold wave hits, 70 cm of snowfall expected in Tohoku
+3rd day Warning-level heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side
+2nd to 3rd: Snow also on the Pacific side, affecting U-turn legs
+On the first day Out: There are more chances on the Pacific side


Today, December 30th (Tuesday), a low pressure system with cold air is passing near Hokkaido,
There are many places on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku where it is snowing and raining.

On the other hand, the Pacific side is covered in high pressure and has many sunny days.

As warm air flows from the south toward the low pressure system to the north,
temperatures are expected to rise across the region.

Today's predicted maximum temperatures are Sapporo: 4c, Sendai: 13c,
Tokyo: 16c, Osaka/Hiroshima/Fukuoka: 15c, and Kochi: 17c.
In the daytime, the sun will feel warm.

In places like Sendai, Tokyo, and Osaka, it will be as warm as November.

However, by New Year's Eve tomorrow, the 31st (Wednesday), a strong cold wave from the north will move southward
and it will be replaced by mid-winter cold.



#New Year's Eve to New Year's Day: Warning-level heavy snowfall in northern Japan#
A low-pressure system is expected to develop as it moves northeast through the Sea of Okhotsk tomorrow, the 31st (Wednesday) and New Year's Eve.
A winter-like pressure pattern is expected to strengthen near Japan from New Year's Day to the 1st (Thursday).

Strong cold air is flowing into the skies above Japan,
with temperatures around 1500m above Sapporo expected to be below -19c, the coldest air of the season.

In the Tohoku region, there is a possibility that snow clouds will continue to develop in similar areas, and
there is a risk that the amount of snow will increase.


The expected 24-hour snowfall from noon on Wednesday the 31st to noon on January 1st is expected to be high in some places:
Along the mountains on the Sea of Japan side of Tohoku: 70 cm
On the Sea of Japan side of Tohoku Plain land: 50 cm
Tohoku Pacific side, along the mountains 70 cm
Tohoku Pacific side, flat land: 50 cm
After that, snowfall will continue, and snowfall is expected to increase further.

Be careful of traffic obstructions caused by heavy snow, snow falling from roofs,
damage to buildings and agricultural facilities, etc.
Be careful of snow accreting on power lines and trees, and avalanches.

Also, the wind will be strong and there will be snowstorms in some places.
Please be careful of poor visibility when driving.

Even on the sunny Pacific side, the wind is cold, and the cold weather typical of this time of year is expected to return.



#New Year's Day and the first three days will be stormy and will coincide with the U-turn rush#

The first wave of the New Year's cold wave is expected to remain near Japan until the third day.

On the Sea of Japan side, snow continues to fall in similar places, and there is a risk that snowfall will suddenly increase rapidly.

On New Year's Day, there is a possibility of heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side of Tohoku, and on the 2nd and 3rd in the San'in and Hokuriku regions.
Warning-level heavy snow is possible.

Also, from the 2nd (Friday) to the 3rd (Saturday), strong northerly winds will bring
snow clouds to the Pacific Ocean, and there are likely to be places in the Kinki, Tokai, and Kanto regions where it will snow.

Due to the combination of U-turn rush and heavy snowfall,
transportation may be significantly affected.

When going out, please check the latest weather and traffic information.



#4th (Sunday) to 5th (Monday)#

The New Year's cold wave is expected to have two large waves, the first wave is expected to arrive on the 3rd day, and the second wave is expected to arrive around the 4th (Sunday) to 5th (Monday).

The second wave will bring strong cold air in a westward direction, so it is likely that there will be snow and rain again in western Japan.

Also, there is a possibility of heavy snow or blizzard again mainly on the Sea of Japan side.

As snowfall increases rapidly on the Japan Sea side,
there is a risk of more accidents during snow removal, such as accidents while removing snow.

Also, heavy snowfall may affect transportation for a long period of time, so please be careful.



#You have a better chance of seeing the first sunrise on the Pacific side.#

This year, we are in the middle of a cold wave during the New Year period, but it looks like the weather will be clear mainly on the Pacific side of northern and eastern Japan, and there will be many places where you can see the first sunrise.

However, it can get quite cold in the morning, so if you are going to see the first sunrise of the year, please make sure to take proper measures to protect yourself from the cold and wind.

Today, the 30th (Tuesday), be careful of lightning and gusts in Hokuriku and Tohoku

2025/12/30 07:28

A low pressure system is moving northeast near Sakhalin. On the other hand, there is a
anticyclone over the sea south of Japan, which is slowly moving eastward.



Today, a trough of atmospheric pressure is expected to pass through northern Japan. Warm, humid air will flow towards this pressure trough and low pressure
, and cold air with a temperature of -30 degrees Celsius or below will flow into the air at an altitude of approximately 5,500 meters, resulting in extremely unstable atmospheric conditions on the Japan Sea side of the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions.
Please be careful of lightning, tornadoes, strong gusts of wind, hail, sudden heavy rain, etc.



The region west of the Kanto region is expected to be mostly sunny, but
the Okinawa region is likely to have clouds and intermittent rain.

[New Year's Cold Wave Invasion] Stormy weather on New Year's Day and the first three days of the year; heavy snow at warning level, affecting transportation

2025/12/29 14:13

#Weather points for the year-end and New Year holidays#
+New Year's Day: Intense cold wave hits, alarming heavy snowfall on the Sea of Japan side
+First sunrise visible on the Pacific side of northern and eastern Japan
+New Year's Day to the third day of the month Heavy snow continues, affecting U-turn legs



Today, December 29th (Monday), the area around Honshu is gently covered by high pressure

It is sunny in many places.

However, a low pressure system is expected to approach Hokkaido tonight, and a weak front (pressure trough) extending from the low pressure system is expected to pass near Honshu.

For this reason, after today's evening,
there will be many places on the Japan Sea side where it will snow and rain.




#Tomorrow 30th (Tuesday)#
Tomorrow 30th (Tuesday), due to the influence of cold air in the upper atmosphere,
It will snow mainly along the mountains on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku,
It will rain in flat areas.

Although the rain may be strong in some places, accompanied by thunder,
the area of the rain is not expected to be very wide.

On the Pacific side, the weather is expected to be sunny and dry during the day.

Until tomorrow, the temperature will be high in various places due to the influence of warm air flowing in.
The temperature will rise to 16c in Tokyo, 15c in Osaka and Hiroshima, and 18c in Kochi,
The sun will feel warm during the day.




#New Year's Eve, Wednesday the 31st#
On New Year's Eve, the 31st (Wednesday), the area around Japan will have a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern of
high in the west and low in the east, and
strong cold air will begin to flow in from the north.

Snow is expected to spread across the Sea of Japan and Hokuriku areas in northern Japan, and snow is expected to increase in many flat areas.

In Yamagata Prefecture, where the amount of snow is particularly high, there is a possibility of
warning-level heavy snow.

Also, the wind is strong, and there are likely to be snowstorms on the Sea of Japan side.

Even on the sunny Pacific side, the wind will feel cold.



#1st (Holiday/Thursday)/New Year's Day#
Compared to yesterday, the strength of the cold air on New Year's Day is expected to be even stronger.
The cold air above Sapporo on January 1st is expected to be -20c, the coldest air of the season.

Snow continues to fall on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku, and there is a possibility that snowfall will increase rapidly.

At the time of the first sunrise, it is expected that the skies will be clear mainly on the Pacific side of northern and eastern Japan, and
a beautiful sunrise can be seen.

The Sea of Japan side is covered with snow and rain clouds, and there are few places where you can see the first sunrise.

However, it will be quite cold in the morning, so if you are going to see the first sunrise of the year, please be sure to take precautions against the cold and wind.

#2nd (Friday) to 3rd (Saturday)#
The strong cold air in the sky will reach its peak from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, and is expected to exceed its peak on the 2nd (Friday).
The strong winter-like pressure pattern will continue, and snow and strong winds are expected to continue on the Sea of Japan side.

There is a possibility of warning-level heavy snow in the San'in and Hokuriku regions.

Also, strong northerly winds are expected to temporarily bring snow and rain clouds to the Pacific Ocean.

There is a possibility that it will snow even on the Pacific side, where it doesn't usually snow, so
Please be careful when driving, especially if the roads are icy.

Around the 3rd (Saturday) of the new year, the "U-turn rush" begins for people returning from their hometowns.

U Turn rush and heavy snow may overlap, so
Please continue to pay attention to the latest weather and traffic information.

#4th (Sunday) - 5th (Monday)#
The winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will continue, and strong cold air will flow in again around the 5th (Monday).
There is a possibility of heavy snow or blizzard again mainly on the Sea of Japan side.

This cold wave is expected to be the longest lasting cold wave this season.

As snowfall increases rapidly on the Sea of Japan side,
it is likely that there will be more accidents during snow removal, such as accidents while removing snow.

Also, long-term heavy snowfall may affect transportation for a long time, so please be careful.

Weekly weather: Strong cold air is expected to remain in the sky from now on. Be careful of the impact of snow on traffic during the year-end and New Year holidays

2025/12/29 08:24

From now on, winter-like atmospheric pressure patterns are expected to continue around Honshu, and strong cold air will remain in the upper atmosphere. There will continue to be snowy days, especially from northern Japan to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side.




Tomorrow, the 30th (Tuesday), the area around Honshu will gradually become winter-like, with high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east. Looking at the forecast for cold air at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters above the ground, it is predicted that strong cold air will move south toward the Sea of Japan region on the night of the 30th. In northern Japan, it is likely that snow will become heavier in some places from the night of the 30th tomorrow. On New Year's Eve, the 31st (Wednesday), snow is expected to spread from northern Japan to the Sea of Japan side of Hokuriku, with localized areas of heavy snowfall expected.




Looking at the forecast weather map after that, it is expected that the pressure pattern around Honshu will continue to be high in the west and low in the east from New Year's Eve on the 31st (Wednesday) until around the 5th when work begins. During this time, strong cold air will be present around 1,500 meters above Honshu, and snowy days will continue for a long time, mainly on the Sea of Japan side. Particularly in northern Japan, the cold air, which is a sign of heavy snowfall, will remain for a long time even in flat areas, so there is a risk of heavy snowfall and further increase in snowfall. Snow will also fall along the mountains of the Kanto-Koshin and Tokai regions, and it is likely that the snow will become heavier in some areas.

It is possible that the timing of the heavy snowfall coincides with the timing of returning home or U-turn rush. If you have plans to return home or travel during the New Year holidays, be sure to pay attention not only to the latest weather information, but also to check the latest traffic information frequently. Also, if you are driving, please be aware of the road conditions.

In case you get stranded, we recommend that you prepare as much as possible with warm clothing such as cold weather gear and blankets, water, emergency food, mobile batteries, and equipment such as shovels and boots for snow removal.