[Warning-level heavy snow] Winter General will attack next week and will remain for a long time Heavy snow and low temperature of "once in 10 years" level

2026/01/17 12:23

Weekly Weather Forecast
#Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the common university entrance test. What is the weather like
#Winter General attacks next week, stays for a long time with the strongest cold air and warning-level heavy snow on the Japan Sea side
#Turns from early spring's cheerful weather with low temperatures starting around the 21st



#Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the common test for university entrance. What is the weather like
A cold vortex with cold air in the sky is expected to move east-southeast near Hokkaido from the night of Saturday the 17th to the morning of Sunday the 18th tomorrow.
On the ground, a low pressure system west of the Soya Strait will move southward west of Hokkaido into the morning of tomorrow, the 18th (Sunday), as a cold vortex moves east-southeast.
Tomorrow, the 18th (Sunday), is the second day of the common university entrance test.
The area around the low-pressure area is expected to experience increased snowfall locally due to the influence of cold air in the upper atmosphere.
From tomorrow, the 18th (Sunday), please be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow in Hokkaido, and be careful of lightning strikes, gusts of wind, and avalanches.
There will be places where it will snow in the morning on the Sea of Japan side of Tohoku and Hokuriku.
On the day of the test, road conditions may deteriorate and transportation may be disrupted, so it is best to arrive at the venue with plenty of time to spare.
After the evening, more places in Hokuriku will stop snowing, and at night the area of snowfall on the Sea of Japan side of northeastern Japan will become narrower.
From the Kanto region to western Japan, the weather is sunny and the temperature is rising, and on the Pacific side, you may feel the heat even in winter clothes.
The air will be dry, so please take good care of your throat and physical condition before taking the exam.



#Winter General will attack next week and will stay for a long time Strongest cold air and warning level heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side
Winter General will attack next week and is expected to stay for a long time.
Next week on the 20th (Tuesday), a low pressure system will move east of Japan, creating a winter-like pressure pattern around Japan.
Also, cold air with temperatures below -6 degrees Celsius at around 1,500 meters above the ground, which is a guideline for snow in flat areas, is expected to remain over Japan from the 20th (Tuesday) to the 25th (Sunday).
Among these, the particularly strong cold air will reach its peak around the 21st (Wednesday) to the 22nd (Thursday), when very strong cold air with temperatures below -12c at around 1,500 meters above the ground will flow into eastern and western Japan as well.



The coldest air of the season is expected to flow into the vicinity of Japan, and the winter-like pressure pattern is expected to strengthen.
On the Sea of Japan side, be careful of increasing snowfall, heavy snow, and blizzard.
If the JPCZ (Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone) is formed, where northerly winds and westerly winds converge, it will snow heavily locally, increasing the possibility of warning-level heavy snowfall mainly in the Hokuriku and San-in Sea of Japan sides.
In addition, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced early weather information on the 15th (Thursday), stating that there is a possibility of significant snowfall for five days from around the 21st (Wednesday) in the Tohoku region, the San-in area on the Sea of Japan side, northern Nagano prefecture, northern Gunma prefecture, and mountainous areas of Gifu prefecture.
At this time of year, there are likely to be some places that experience heavy snowfall, which is on a once-in-a-decade level.



There is a risk of large-scale stranding due to heavy snow, so
Please be careful and be on guard against traffic obstructions.
Also, snow may accumulate on power lines, causing power outages.
It would be a good idea to prepare for power outages and stock up on food.
This time, General Winter will remain for a long time, so there is a risk that transportation will be affected for a long time.



#A complete change from the early spring weather Low temperature trend starting around the 21st
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced early weather information on the 15th (Thursday), stating that the average temperature for 5 days starting around the 21st (Wednesday) will be quite low nationwide.
This week, there were some places where the weather was as warm as early April, but from around the 20th (Tuesday) in northern Japan, and from around the 21st (Wednesday) nationwide, the temperature will turn colder than normal.

Storm warning and wave warning on the Sea of Japan side due to winter-like atmospheric pressure distribution Widespread of seas near Japan [Marine Summary (January 4th to 10th, 2026)]

2026/01/16 16:04

The area around Japan frequently experienced winter-like atmospheric pressure patterns, and there were blizzard warnings and wave warnings in some areas, mainly on the Sea of Japan side.
On the 8th, winter-like atmospheric pressure conditions temporarily strengthened, and the seas around Japan became largely barren.
Below is a summary of the ocean (January 4-10, 2026)



#Pressure distribution and waves
On the 4th, the pressure distribution near Japan was high in the west and low in the east, and waves were high in the northern and central parts of the Japan Sea, and in the east of Japan.
From the 5th to the 6th, a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern occurred near Japan, and waves gradually increased in the East China Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.
On the 7th and 8th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front rapidly developed as it moved across the Sea of Japan, and the front passed through western and northern Japan.
In some parts of Hokuriku and Hokkaido, blizzard warnings and wave warnings were announced.
On the 8th, winter-like pressure patterns temporarily strengthened and became widespread over the Sea of Japan.
On the 9th, the winter-type pressure distribution gradually eased from the west, but the pressure remained in the east of Japan.
On the 10th, a low-pressure system accompanied by a front moved through the Sea of Japan and settled between the Yellow Sea and the central part of the Sea of Japan.



#Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperatures in the Japanese sea area were slightly lower than normal in the northern part, and higher than normal in the central and western areas, with the sea surface temperature being up to 3 C higher than normal.
In the East China Sea, the sea area expanded compared to normal.
Sea areas south of Japan continued to be at normal levels, and waters off the Tokai and Kanto coasts continued to be below normal levels.
Off the coast of Sanriku, the area where temperatures are higher than normal or significantly higher has expanded, with temperatures up to 4 C higher than normal.
The sea area off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido continued to be higher than normal.
The waters near the Kuril Islands and the Sea of Okhotsk continued to be at or slightly below normal.

Typhoon No. 1: General Winter will hit Japan next week. The typhoon is unlikely to move north and will have no impact on Japan [Latest typhoon course forecast]

2026/01/16 11:41

As of 9 a.m. today, Friday the 16th, Typhoon No. 1 (Nocaen) is moving north-northwest east of the Philippines at 15 km/h.



From tomorrow until the 18th (Sunday), it will move northwest to the east of the Philippines and develop slightly.
Afterwards, it is expected to slow its movement east of Luzon Island, change its course to the east, weaken, and turn into a tropical cyclone east of the Philippines by 9 a.m. on the 21st (Wednesday).

#Typhoon No. 1 January 16th (Friday) 9:00 a.m.
Area of existence: East of the Philippines
Center location: 11 10'N latitude, 128 55'E
Direction of travel, speed North-northwest, 15 km/h
Central pressure 1000 hPa
Maximum wind speed 18 m/s (near the center)
Maximum instantaneous wind speed 25 m/s
Strong wind area 390 km on the north side, 220 km on the south side km

Next week, General Winter will hit the area near Japan, and the strong cold air will move south, making it difficult for the typhoon to move north, so it is not expected to have any impact on the Japanese archipelago.
This is the first typhoon in about two months since Typhoon No. 27 (Koto) that occurred on November 25th last year. This is the first typhoon of the year.



Looking at the average number of typhoons, January to March is the period with the lowest number of typhoons of the year, at 0.3 each.
Also, even when typhoons occur, they almost never approach the Japanese archipelago, and since statistics began in 2019, no typhoons have been recorded to approach the Japanese archipelago between January and March.

Above-average snowfall mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan; snow depth exceeds 3m in Sukayu, Aomori Prefecture (weather summary from January 4th to January 10th, 2026)

2026/01/16 06:24

This is a summary of the weather for this period (January 4th to January 10th, 2026).

#Summary of the weather for this period (January 4th to January 10th)
The average temperature remained almost at normal levels from Tohoku to Kyushu, although the winter-like pressure pattern continued, but there were also periods when warm air flowed in due to the influence of low pressure. On the other hand, the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido, Okinawa, and Amami were relatively susceptible to the effects of cold air in the upper atmosphere, so temperatures tended to be below normal.

Precipitation exceeded normal levels from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region due to increased snowfall as strong cold air moved southward. On the other hand, from the Pacific side of Tohoku to the Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan, as well as Okinawa and Amami, rainfall was well below normal, and many locations, such as Sendai, Tokyo, and Nagoya, recorded total rainfall of 0 mm for the period.

Sunshine hours tended to exceed normal levels, especially in western Japan, which tends to be covered by high pressure. On the other hand, in northern Japan, which was susceptible to the effects of cold air above, low pressure, and fronts, many places, including Muroran, Akita, and Sendai, had temperatures below normal.



[About this period's weather]
#Characteristics of pressure distribution
On the 4th, a strong winter-like pressure distribution will continue near Honshu. A low pressure system is moving eastward over the Sea of Okhotsk. On the 5th, winter-type atmospheric pressure continued to prevail around Honshu. Around 3:00 p.m., a low pressure system formed east of the Kanto region and moved eastward. On the 6th, the power of an anticyclone protruding from the west became dominant, and the winter-like pressure pattern gradually loosened. Late at night, a new low-pressure system formed in the Sea of Japan, rapidly developing over the 7th, and moving toward the Sakhalin area. On the same day, another low pressure system formed near the Boso Peninsula and south of Honshu, each moving eastward. On the 8th, the area near Honshu experienced a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern with high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east, and strong cold air in the upper atmosphere moved south toward Honshu. On the 9th, the cold air moved northward, and the area around Honshu was covered by a high-pressure system extending from the west, temporarily loosening the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. Meanwhile, a low pressure system near northern China is moving eastward, and the front is gradually becoming clearer. On the 10th, the low pressure system rapidly developed as it moved through the Sea of Japan. Another low pressure system formed near the Nansei Islands and moved eastward, and another front stalled on the southern coast of Honshu during the night.

#Precipitation
On the 4th, it snowed widely from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region. It continued to rain intermittently in the southern Tohoku and northern Kanto regions, with 39 cm of snow falling over a 24-hour period in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. On the 5th, snow continued mainly on the Sea of Japan side, and in some places along the coast of northern Japan it became a blizzard. In Hokuriku, precipitation gradually changes from snow to rain. On the 6th, snow continued to fall in northern Japan, and Sukayu in Aomori Prefecture recorded the deepest snow depth of 313 cm, making it the first snowfall in the country to exceed 3 meters this season. On the 7th, snow fell in the Kanto region from dawn until morning due to a low pressure system near the Boso Peninsula. In the afternoon, the area of snow and rain spread due to the influence of a low pressure system and front. On the 8th, as strong cold air moved southward, snow became heavier mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan. In Sapporo, snowfall amounted to 40 cm in 12 hours, breaking the highest snowfall from last winter. Heavy snow warning announced in Hokkaido and Niigata prefectures. On the 9th, the winter-like pressure pattern gradually eased, but snow began to fall at night on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan due to the influence of a local front. On the 10th, the weather turned downhill due to the effects of a low pressure system and front. It rained in many places during the day, but at night it turned to snow, and the rainfall became heavier in some areas.

#Temperature
On the 4th, a morning minimum temperature of -21.8c was observed in Rikubetsu, Hokkaido. Temperatures did not rise during the day, and the whole country was in the middle of winter. On the 5th, almost all of Hokkaido was in the middle of winter. Temperatures are rising in eastern and western Japan, and in Tokyo the temperature was 12.8 C, the same level as in March. White plum blossoms bloom in Shizuoka. On the 6th, temperatures across the country dropped from the previous day due to the influence of cold air moving south. The highest temperature in Tottori, where the strong earthquake occurred, was 4.7c, 6.7c lower than the previous day. On the 7th, it was extremely cold in the morning, and in Rikubetsu Town, Hokkaido, the lowest temperature in Japan this season (as of January 7th) was recorded at -27.6c. Despite snow and rain, the highest temperature in Tokyo was 6.4 degrees Celsius, tied for the lowest temperature of the season on December 27th. On the 8th, midwinter cold continued across the country. The maximum temperature in many places did not reach 10c, and the maximum temperature in Osaka was 9.2c. On the 9th, the maximum daytime temperature remained near normal in many places. In Miyakojima, the flowering of Hikanzakura was announced. On the 10th, temperatures rose nationwide as cold air moved northward. On the Sea of Japan side, temperatures rose due to the Foehn phenomenon, and the maximum temperature in Kanazawa was 14.4 degrees Celsius, about as warm as early April.

Latest 1-month forecast: Beware of heavy snow and low temperatures that occur once every 10 years from around the 21st

2026/01/16 06:16

On the 15th (Thursday), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the latest one-month forecast, which shows the weather outlook for the next month.



The monthly mean sea level pressure is expected to be higher than normal from Siberia to East Asia, and lower than normal over the sea east of Japan.
The Siberian High and the Aleutian Low are both expected to be strong, and the winter-like pressure pattern is likely to become stronger near Japan. Temperatures around 1,500 meters above sea level are expected to be lower than normal nationwide, making the region susceptible to strong cold air.




In addition, the Japan Meteorological Agency has released "early weather information regarding heavy snow" and "early weather information regarding low temperatures." These announcements are made when there is a higher than usual chance of significant snowfall and extremely low temperatures, a level that occurs once every 10 years.




From now until around the 20th (Tuesday), temperatures are expected to be higher than normal in some places, mainly in western and eastern Japan, and the weather will be warmer than usual. However, from around the 21st (Wednesday), the weather will take a turn and the area around Honshu will be affected by strong cold air in the upper atmosphere. It is predicted that the whole country will experience severe cold, and there is a high possibility that heavy snowfall will occur, especially on the Sea of Japan coast from Tohoku to the Sanin area, resulting in warning-level heavy snowfall. Please be aware of traffic problems caused by heavy snow and poor visibility caused by blizzard. Also, please be careful not to freeze water pipes due to low temperatures and manage crops.

Western Japan and the Pacific side of eastern Japan have very little precipitation, and the air is likely to remain dry. The situation where fires are likely to occur is expected to continue, so please be careful when handling fire.

Tomorrow, the 16th (Friday), there is a possibility of yellow sand flying due to the warmth ahead of the season.

2026/01/15 20:40

Tomorrow, the 16th (Friday), the area around Honshu will have a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern centered on northern Japan.



Intermittent rain and snow are expected on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan, and rain is expected in many places in Hokuriku. Westerly winds will become stronger, and some areas on the Sea of Japan side of the northeast will experience snowstorms. In areas with heavy snowfall, be careful of road conditions, snow falling from roofs, avalanches, etc.
The range of rain and snow is expected to gradually narrow from the evening onwards.



There will be many sunny places in eastern and western Japan. Daytime temperatures will be higher than normal in many places, and it will be as warm as March in many places. Temperatures are expected to reach 20 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Kyushu, such as Kagoshima, and there are likely to be places where it will be as warm as April.



Tomorrow, the 16th (Friday), there is a possibility that yellow sand will fly from western Japan to eastern Japan. Looking at the forecast for yellow dust, it is predicted that it will cover almost the entire area from Tohoku to Kyushu.
The air is expected to be drier on the Pacific side of western Japan and eastern Japan, so if you are sensitive, please take precautions such as wearing a mask when going out. Also, please be careful as yellow sand may adhere to laundry, cars, etc. It seems best to dry your laundry indoors.

First typhoon of 2026 to occur; first typhoon to occur in January in 7 years

2026/01/15 19:51

Around 3:00 pm today, the 15th (Thursday), a tropical cyclone that was developing near the east of Mindanao Island in the Philippines became Typhoon No. 1 (Nocaen). This is the first typhoon to occur this year.

It is not uncommon for typhoons to occur in January, but in recent years, typhoons have been slow to form, and this is the first time in seven years since January 1, 2019 that a typhoon has occurred in January. Last year in 2025, typhoon No. 1 occurred on June 11th (fifth latest in statistical history), so typhoon No. 1 occurred much earlier than last year.

#Typhoon No. 1 15th (Thursday) 6:00 pm
===================
Center position East of the Philippines
Traveling speed Northwest 10km/h
Central pressure 1000hPa
Maximum wind speed 18m/s (near the center)
Maximum instantaneous wind speed 25m/s
=================



Typhoon No. 1 is then expected to move northwest in the east of the Philippines and change its course to the east around the 19th.
As a typhoon, there is no prediction of significant development, and it is expected to maintain its strength.

A cold wave is expected to hit the area around Japan next week on the 20th (Tuesday), so it is thought that there is a low possibility that the typhoon will move north towards Japan and have any impact.

[The strongest and longest cold wave this winter] Next week will bring ``very low temperatures'' nationwide and ``considerable heavy snow'' on the Sea of ??Japan side.

2026/01/15 12:28

There are many days this week with relatively high temperatures for this time of year, but the ``strongest cold air of the season'' will remain for a long time next week, and a cold wave is likely to arrive.



Looking at the weekly weather map from Saturday the 17th,
there will be many places with relatively calm weather until around the 18th (Sunday), covered by high pressure overhanging the continent.

On the 19th (Monday), temperatures are expected to remain high as warm air flows towards the low pressure system passing through northern Japan.

However, from the 20th (Tuesday) onward, the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will continue, and the strongest cold air of the season is expected to flow into the sky above
.




Looking at the low-level cold air forecast,
cold air with a temperature of -6 degrees Celsius or less at around 1500m above the ground, which is a guideline for bringing snow in flat areas, is expected to remain over Japan from around the 20th (Tuesday) to the 25th (Sunday).

The peak of particularly strong cold air is around the 21st (Wednesday) and 22nd (Thursday).

Extremely cold air with temperatures below minus 12 degrees Celsius at around 1500m above the ground, which is expected to bring heavy snow in flat areas, is expected to flow into western and eastern Japan.

The coldest cold air we've seen in a single winter is heading south,
and is expected to remain for an even longer period of time.



The recently announced "Early Weather Information for Low Temperatures" states that the weather will be blue throughout Japan from around January 20th, and
that it is expected to be "very low temperatures."

In some places in northern Japan and inland areas, the temperature can drop to below -4 degrees Celsius, and there is a possibility of water outages due to frozen water pipes.

Also, please be careful about managing your crops.



Furthermore, due to the long-term stay of the cold wave, the amount of snowfall is expected to increase significantly.

The amount of snowfall for 5 days will be around 140-250% of the normal level mainly in the areas on the Sea of Japan side,
It is likely that some places will experience heavy snowfall of once-in-a-decade level at this time of year.

Heavy snowfall also requires vigilance for a long period of time.

There is a risk of large-scale stranding due to heavy snow, so
Please be careful and be on guard against traffic disturbances.

In addition, snow may accumulate on power lines, causing power outages.
It would be a good idea to prepare for power outages and stock up on food.




Finally, the weekly weather.

From now on, Hokkaido is expected to experience "midwinter days" with temperatures below 0c every day, and the bitter cold will continue.

In Tokyo, the maximum temperature will be 8c from the 21st (Wednesday) to the 22nd (Thursday),
In Nagoya and Fukuoka, the maximum temperature will be 5c on the 22nd (Thursday),
It looks like it will be bitterly cold, below mid-winter, in various places.

The cold wind is also blowing strongly, making it feel even colder than the temperature.

Please be careful not to get sick due to the cold wave.

Temperatures are rising in various places; Fukuoka is as sunny as April; areas with heavy snowfall should be careful about melting snow

2026/01/15 07:27

Today, the 15th, warm air is expected to flow into the vicinity of Japan from the south as a low-pressure system moves through the Sea of Japan. Temperatures will rise in many places during the day, and in many places it will be higher than the day before, with many places in western Japan likely to exceed 15 degrees Celsius.

The predicted maximum temperature is -1c in Sapporo, 11c in Sendai, 12c in Tokyo, 10c in Nagoya, 14c in Kanazawa, 13c in Osaka, 16c in Kochi, and 18c in Fukuoka.
South of Tohoku, you will feel comfortable during the day.
Fukuoka is also expected to experience unseasonably warm weather, similar to early April.



There is a risk that the snow will continue to melt in areas with heavy snowfall, and as of 7:00 a.m., an avalanche warning has been issued from Hokkaido to the San'in area. Be careful of snow falling from roofs, deteriorating road conditions, avalanches, etc.

Hokkaido is expected to be in the middle of winter in many places as the effects of cold air remain. Please continue to take precautions against the cold when going out.

Today's weather on the 15th (Thursday): Snow and rain are likely to fall north of Hokuriku, and sunshine reaches the Pacific side.

2026/01/15 06:42

Today, the 15th (Thursday), a low pressure system accompanied by a front will move through the Sea of Japan and pass near northern Japan in the evening. The weather on the Japan Sea side north of Hokuriku is likely to continue to be cloudy.



It will be a day of heavy snow and rain on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku. On the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido, attention should be paid to increased snowfall, especially along the mountains.
In the afternoon, snow will turn to rain in some places in Tohoku and Hokuriku. Temperatures will rise from the previous day, and there is a risk that the snow will melt further. Please be careful of snow falling from the roof and avalanches.

On the Sea of Japan side of western Japan, there are places where the sun will reach in the morning, but from the afternoon onwards, there will be places where it will start to rain and cause thunderstorms. Please be careful of lightning, gusts of wind, and sudden heavy rain. It's a good idea to bring rain gear when you go out.

It will be sunny in many places on the Pacific side west of the Kanto region.
Western Japan is prone to clouds and showers, so it's a good idea to carry a foldable umbrella. The temperature will be high and the weather will be pleasant and sunny during the day.
Please be careful when handling fire as the air continues to dry.