Weather for the week: 4th As the first day of spring approaches, the cold will temporarily ease, but the cold is expected to return again.

2026/01/31 08:51

From now on, the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will gradually loosen around Honshu. By the time we reach the first day of spring on the 4th (Wednesday), the cold will temporarily subside, and many places will experience warmer weather than normal.



For the first few days of next week, it is expected that the weather will continue to be prone to snow and rain due to the influence of cold air on the Sea of Japan side.

From the middle of the week, high pressure will gradually build up from the west, and the cold will temporarily subside in many places around the 4th (Wednesday), which marks the first day of spring in the 24 solar terms. Temperatures are expected to be nearly 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal in many places, with the expected maximum temperature in Tokyo on the 4th being 12 degrees Celsius, Osaka and Hiroshima at 12 degrees Celsius, and Kochi and Kagoshima at 15 degrees Celsius.
In areas with heavy snowfall, the snow melts as temperatures rise, so be careful of deteriorating road conditions, snow falling from roofs, and avalanches.

After the 5th (Thursday) in the second half of the week, more and more places will be affected by low pressure and fronts. A front and low pressure system will pass near Honshu around the 6th (Friday), and the weather is expected to deteriorate widely, including on the Pacific side. After the low pressure system and front pass, the winter-like pressure pattern will become stronger again, and the area around Honshu will be affected by cold air again. The temperature tends to fluctuate greatly over the course of several days, so please take care of your health.

Snow continues on the Sea of Japan side on the last day of January; Be careful of heavy rain in the Nansei Islands

2026/01/31 07:44

Today, the 31st (Saturday), the area around Honshu will continue to experience a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern with strong cold air in the upper atmosphere.
Also, a low pressure system and front are expected to approach the Nansei Islands.



From northern Japan to Hokuriku, it will snow intermittently, and there will be some places along the mountains where the snow will be heavier. Even if the snow falls temporarily in the afternoon, it is expected to spread across the area again tonight.

The Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan will remain sunny and dry. Please be careful when handling sources of fire. The cold winds will blow from the north, and the winter will continue to be cold.



The Nansei Islands will experience temporary rain due to low pressure and fronts. There are likely to be localized areas with heavy rain accompanied by thunder. By tonight, the rain clouds will have passed and the rain will stop in many places.



Tomorrow, the 1st (Sun), the area around Honshu will have a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. There will still be strong cold air over northern Japan, and there will be heavy snowfall not only along the mountains but also on the plains. In coastal areas, the wind is likely to be strong and there will be some places where it will snow.
Also, around Hokuriku, snow clouds that formed over the Sea of Japan have flowed in, and it will continue to snow intermittently tomorrow, with the snow likely to get heavier in some places along the mountains.
Please be careful of deteriorating road conditions, snow falling from roofs, and avalanches.

The cold is below the Great Cold and the temperature is on par with normal. Some places where pollen is starting to scatter. The Pacific side continues to be dry. Be careful when handling fire.

2026/01/30 12:10

[1-month forecast points]
Last week, the strongest and longest cold wave of the season hit, and the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern became stronger.
Although this period is originally the coldest period of the year, temperatures across western and northern Japan have fallen even lower than the normal Great Cold, making it extremely cold.
From now on, the effects of the cold wave are expected to subside, and temperatures are expected to return to normal levels across the country.
When the temperature rises, cedar pollen may begin to scatter in some places.
Also, in the Pacific side of western Japan and eastern Japan, some places have been less susceptible to the effects of low-pressure systems since mid-November last year, and have continued to experience low precipitation, but the light rain is expected to continue for the next month.
Please continue to be careful when handling fire.



Yesterday, the 29th (Thursday), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the forecast for the month from January 31st to February 28th.

[Precipitation and sunshine hours for the next month]
The average sea level pressure for the next month will be lower than normal from the Sea of Okhotsk to the south of the Aleutians, and a strong Aleutian depression is predicted.
On the other hand, it will be higher than normal from the East China Sea to the south of Japan, and areas west of the Pacific side of eastern Japan will be less affected by the cyclone.
As it is less susceptible to the effects of low pressure, precipitation over the next month is expected to be low on the Pacific side of Okinawa/Amami and western and eastern Japan, and at or below normal on the Sea of Japan side of western Japan.
The amount of sunshine in the coming month will be at or above normal in Okinawa/Amami and western Japan, and will be above normal on the Pacific side of eastern Japan.



[Temperature and snowfall for the next month]
Temperatures at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters are expected to be lower than normal from central Siberia to northeastern China, but the deviation from normal is expected to be small near Japan.
Over the next month, temperatures will be near normal across the country. However, the daily temperature difference is likely to increase, with the weather returning to midwinter-like cold and spring-like warmth in short cycles.
When the temperature rises, cedar pollen will begin to scatter in some areas, so if you suffer from hay fever, it would be a good idea to start taking measures to prevent pollen.
The onset of the cold wave is calming down, and even if it moves south a few times, it is not expected to linger as long as it did last week.
The amount of snowfall in western and northern Japan will be at normal levels.

Snowfall is increasing mainly in Tohoku and Hokuriku. Be careful of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow and frozen roads.

2026/01/30 06:52

Strong winter air pressure is flowing into the vicinity of Japan, and the Sea of Japan has become a pressure trough. Additionally, a low pressure system is located west of Hokkaido and is slowly moving south-southeast.

Today, the 30th, there will be heavy snowfall in some places, especially on the Sea of Japan side of eastern Japan and the Tohoku region.



In eastern Japan and the Tohoku region, heavy snow is expected to fall not only along the mountains and areas, but also on the plains, mainly on the Sea of Japan side. There will be places in western Japan where there will be heavy snow.

#Expected amount of snow (in areas with a lot of it)
+Amount of snowfall expected for 24 hours by dawn on the 31st (Saturday) tomorrow
Tohoku region 50cm
Hokuriku region 70cm
Kinki region 40cm

#Disaster prevention matters
Today, the 30th, please be careful of traffic problems caused by heavy snow and frozen roads in eastern Japan and the Tohoku region, and be careful of heavy snow in western Japan. Also, be careful of snow accretion and avalanches on power lines and trees.

Weather for today, the 30th (Friday): Winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern continues; heavy snow warning from Tohoku to Sanin area

2026/01/30 06:15

Today, the 30th (Friday), strong winter-like pressure patterns are expected to continue around Japan. Continue to be careful of heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side. It will be sunny in many places on the Pacific side.



Clouds tend to spread in Hokkaido, and there will be periods of snow. Please be aware of changes in the weather as it is likely to snow in the afternoon in northern and eastern Hokkaido.

Snow is expected to fall intermittently on the Sea of Japan side from Tohoku to the San'in area, and it is expected to intensify locally. There is a risk of snow accumulation not only along the mountains but also on the flatlands, so please be careful and be on guard against traffic disruptions caused by heavy snow.

It will be sunny in many places on the Pacific side west of the Kanto region. As the air continues to be dry, care must be taken when handling fire.

It is expected to be bitterly cold in various places during the day.

[Snow in the Kanto region] Even if it's sunny now, there are places where a light layer of snow accumulates at night. What should I be careful about

2026/01/29 11:56

The Kanto region is calm and sunny, especially in the plains.

However, the weather changed suddenly on the afternoon of today, the 29th (Thursday), and
it is likely to snow in the plains of the Kanto region tonight, resulting in snow accumulation in some places.



From today's afternoon to tomorrow 30th (Friday), strong cold air will flow over the Kanto region, bringing snow on the flatlands.

In addition, a weak front is expected to pass from the southern Kanto region to the Izu Islands, and snow and rain clouds are likely to develop locally.




Looking at the weather distribution at 3pm,
white snow is expected in western Kanagawa Prefecture and other areas.

There will be a lot of snow mainly along the mountains such as Chichibu in Saitama and Hakone in Kanagawa.

In addition, the snow will become heavier in the plains of the Kanto region by late tonight, and there will be some places where there will be a light amount of snow.

Please be careful of traffic obstructions and frozen roads caused by snow, including in mountainous and plain areas.

If the ground temperature is lower than expected or the amount of precipitation is higher than expected, there is a possibility of
heavy snow.

[Snow Forecast]
There will be heavy snowfall in the 24 hours until 6 a.m. tomorrow, the 30th (Friday),
Mountainous areas in the northern Kanto region 30cm
Flatlands in the northern Kanto region 1cm
From Hakone to Tama region and Chichibu region 5cm
Flat land in southern Kanto region 1cm
Koshin region 40cm
.



Roads are particularly slippery on uphill slopes, curves, bridges, and near tunnel entrances
, making it dangerous to drive at speed.

In areas where snow is expected,
it is best to refrain from driving a car without winter tires.

Cold air and winter-like atmospheric pressure patterns will become stronger through tomorrow, the 30th (Friday). Heavy snow warning.

2026/01/29 09:55

There is a low pressure system with a front over the sea east of Japan, and it is moving away to the east.
There is also a low pressure system near Hokkaido that is slowly moving eastward.
On the other hand, an anticyclone is protruding eastward from the continent.

Today, the low pressure near Hokkaido will slowly move toward the eastern seaboard, and tomorrow, the 30th (Friday), the winter-like pressure pattern of high in the west and low in the east is expected to intensify, causing strong cold air to flow into the upper atmosphere.





For this reason, snow will fall widely on the Sea of Japan side, and there will be places where it snows heavily even on flat areas.
Please be careful of traffic obstructions due to heavy snow and frozen roads, and be careful of snow accumulation and avalanches.

Although there will be many sunny days on the Pacific side, the atmospheric conditions will be unstable due to the effects of cold air in the upper atmosphere and troughs in atmospheric pressure, and it is expected that snow and rain may fall in some places.





###Snow Forecast
In the Tohoku region and from eastern to western Japan, heavy snow is expected to fall not only along the mountains and mountainous areas, but also on the flatlands, mainly along the Sea of Japan.
Also, there will be places in eastern Japan, where there is usually little snow, and on the Pacific side of western Japan, which will experience heavy snowfall.

The expected 24-hour snowfall from 6:00 am on the 29th to 6:00 am on the 30th is expected to be high in some places.
Tohoku Sea of Japan side, along the mountains, 50 cm
East North Sea of Japan side flat land 40cm
Tohoku Pacific side mountainside 50cm
Tohoku Pacific side flat land 30cm
Kanto Northern mountainous area 30cm
Kanto Northern plains 1cm
From Hakone to Tama region and Chichibu region
5cm
Kanto Southern plains 1 cm
Koshin region 40cm
Hokuriku Shin Kata prefecture, flat land 40 cm
Hokuriku, Niigata prefecture, along the mountains 70 cm
Hokuriku, Toyama prefecture, flat land 40 cm
Hokuriku, Toyama Prefecture Mountain area 70cm
Hokuriku Ishikawa Prefecture Plains 30cm
Hokuriku Ishikawa Prefecture Mountains 40cm
Hokuriku Fukui Prefecture Flatland 30cm
Hokuriku Fukui Prefecture Mountains 50cm
Tokai Aichi Prefecture Mountains 15cm
Tokai Aichi Prefecture Flatland 7cm
Tokai Gifu Prefecture Mountains 40cm
Tokai Gifu Prefecture Plain 20cm
Tokai Mie Prefecture 10cm
Northern Kinki Mountains 60cm
Northern Kinki Plains 35cm
Central Kinki Mountains 50 cm
Kinki Chubu Plains 10 cm
Southern Kinki Mountains 5 cm

Then at 6 o'clock on the 30th The expected amount of snowfall in the next 24 hours by 6:00 on the 31st is high:
Tohoku, Sea of Japan side, along the mountains, 70 cm
; Tohoku, Sea of Japan side, flat land 4 0cm
Tohoku, Pacific side, along the mountains 70cm
Tohoku, Pacific side, flat land 30cm
Hokuriku, Niigata prefecture, flatland, 20cm inch
Hokuriku, Niigata Prefecture, along the mountains 50cm
Hokuriku, Toyama Prefecture, flat land 15cm
Hokuriku, Toyama Prefecture, mountainous area 40cm Chi
Hokuriku, Ishikawa Prefecture, flatland 10cm
Hokuriku, Ishikawa prefecture, mountainous area 30cm
Hokuriku, Fukui prefecture, flatland 15cm
Hokuriku Fukui Prefecture Mountains 20cm
Northern Kinki Mountains 30cm
Northern Kinki Plains 20cm
br Kinki, Chubu, Mountainous Area 30cm
Kinki, Chubu Plainland 10cm
Kinki, Southern Mountainous 1cm

This season's strongest and longest cold wave: The long-term winter-like pressure pattern strengthens and the seas near Japan become widespread [Ocean Summary (January 18-24, 2026)]

2026/01/28 15:03

The strongest and longest cold wave of the season has struck, and winter-like pressure patterns have strengthened around Japan for a long period of time.
The spacing between the isobars became narrower, the wind became stronger, and the waves rose in the seas around Japan, causing some places to become barges.
Below is a summary of the ocean (January 18-24, 2026)



#Pressure distribution and waves
On the 18th, the high pressure over the Sea of Japan and the continent moved southeast, and the gradient of pressure became larger between the low pressure west of Hokkaido and the low pressure east of Japan.
The waves rose in the northern Sea of Japan and the east of Japan, and there was a storm in the east of Japan.
From the 19th to the 20th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front developed and moved from the Sea of Japan to the east of the Kuril Islands, while another low pressure system developed west of Hokkaido and moved southward.
The area around Japan gradually entered a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, and on the 20th, wave heights reached up to 5 meters in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, east of Japan, and west of Hokkaido.
From the 21st to the 24th, a winter-like pressure pattern strengthened for a long period of time.
Waves rose widely in the seas near Japan, and barge conditions continued in the Sea of Japan and east of Japan.



#Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperatures in the Japanese waters continued to be lower than normal in the northern part.
In the central and western regions, areas with significantly high sea areas shrank and areas that were at normal levels expanded.
The East China Sea continued to be at normal levels.
The southern part of Japan continued to be at normal levels, and the waters off the Tokai and Kanto coasts were slightly below normal.
Off the coast of Sanriku, areas with higher than normal temperatures or significantly higher temperatures have expanded, with temperatures up to 4 C higher than normal.
The temperature off the southeast coast of Hokkaido continued to be higher than normal or significantly higher.
The waters near the Kuril Islands and the Sea of Okhotsk continued to be at normal levels.

[Intense cold air strikes again] Warning-level heavy snow on the Sea of ??Japan side; possibility of snow in southern Kanto Weekly weather forecast

2026/01/28 12:18

Weekly Weather Forecast
#Tomorrow ~ The day after tomorrow, strong cold air will hit again, warning heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side
# Possibility of snow in the southern Kanto region tomorrow
#Cooler than the coldest cold of the year, with temporary high temperatures in early February



#Tomorrow ~ The next day, intense cold air will strike again Warning-level heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side
Last week, the strongest and longest cold air of the season hit, but from tomorrow the 29th (Thursday) to the 30th (Friday), the intense cold air will attack again.
Although not as cold as last week's cold wave, cold air with temperatures around -9c at an altitude of around 1,500m is expected to move southward into western and eastern Japan, and cold air with a temperature of around -12c will move south into northern Japan.
A winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern is strengthening near Japan, and there is a risk of heavy snow mainly on the Sea of Japan side of western and eastern Japan.
Last week's strongest and longest cold wave of the season left a lot of snow in some places, so please be on the lookout for further snowfall.
There will be heavy snowfall not only along the mountains and in the mountains, but also on the flatlands.
In addition, the JPCZ (Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Line) is expected to remain mostly stationary from the Sea of Japan side of western Japan to Wakasa Bay from next day until the 30th (Friday).



If JPCZ stays in a similar location, there is a high possibility that snowfall will become stronger in a short period of time and become heavy snow.
In the northern Kinki region near JPCZ, snowfall will increase rapidly in a short period of time from noon on the 29th (Thursday) tomorrow to Friday the 30th (Friday).
In particular, if the snow clouds develop more than expected and become stagnant from late at night on the 29th (Thursday) to mid-morning on the 30th (Friday), there is a possibility of warning-level heavy snow.
Depending on the strength of the cold air, there may be warning-level heavy snow in the Sanin and Hokuriku areas near JPCZ, as well as in the northern Tohoku region near the center of the cold air, so please keep an eye on the latest weather information.
It is a good idea to start removing snow and stocking up on food and other items by Wednesday, the 28th, when the snow has calmed down.

#There is a possibility of snow in the southern Kanto region tomorrow.
From tomorrow the 29th (Thursday) to the 30th (Friday), many places on the Pacific side will be sunny.
However, clouds tend to spread around the Tokai region and the southern Kanto region due to the effects of low atmospheric pressure and humid air, and snow and rain are expected to fall in places from around noon tomorrow, the 29th (Thursday).
There will be some snow mixed in along the coast.
There is no need to worry about it accumulating in coastal areas, but you need to be careful about road conditions just in case.



#Cooler than the coldest cold of the year The beginning of February is originally the coldest period of the year, but towards the end of January there will be days when the temperature is even lower than the average cold weather, so it is necessary to protect yourself from the cold.
Mornings are getting colder, so please be careful of frozen water pipes even in inland areas of Honshu.
In early February, temperatures will return to normal in many places, but there will be places in northern Japan that will experience higher-than-normal temperatures for a time.
Be careful of melting snow.

This season's strongest cold wave hits, weather information announcement regarding significant heavy snowfall in Kanazawa, Hikone, etc. (weather summary from January 18, 2026 to January 24, 2026)

2026/01/28 08:31

This is a summary of the weather for this period (January 18, 2026 to January 24, 2026).

#Summary of the weather for this period (January 18th to January 24th)
The average temperature was affected by warm air at the beginning of this period (around the 18th to 19th), but after the 20th there was a shift to a strong winter-like pressure pattern, and the temperature was below normal, especially in northern Japan, which was susceptible to extremely strong cold air. In particular, in northern Tohoku, there were many places such as Aomori where temperatures were 2 C or more below normal.

Precipitation was above normal in many places, mainly on the Japan Sea side from northern Japan to Hokuriku, where a strong winter-like pressure pattern continued and heavy snow fell due to the influence of the low pressure system and JPCZ. On the other hand, in the southern part of Tohoku and the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan, there were many spots with a total rainfall of less than 10 mm during the period, and there was a marked trend of low rainfall, well below normal.

Sunshine hours tended to be below normal on the Japan Sea side from northern Japan to Hokuriku, due to continued snow and rain weather associated with a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern. On the other hand, in western Japan, Okinawa, and Amami, there were many days covered by high pressure throughout the period, so temperatures tended to be above normal.



[About this period's weather]
#Characteristics of pressure distribution
On the 18th, a low pressure system heading south west of Hokkaido later became indistinct, and high pressure prevailed around Honshu. A new low pressure system formed in the western Japan Sea late on the night of the 18th, and continued to develop into the 19th as it moved toward the coast of Sanriku. Another low pressure system formed in the northern Sea of Japan, and by the 20th, a strong winter-like pressure pattern had formed near Honshu, with extremely cold air below -42c at an altitude of approximately 5,500m. The low pressure system accompanied by the front rapidly developed and moved east of the Kuril Islands. On the 21st, the Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone (JPCZ) was formed in the Sea of Japan, and it headed from Hokuriku to the San'in region until the 22nd. In the early hours of the 23rd, a new low-pressure system formed near the west of Hokkaido, and the situation was almost stagnant. After that, the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern continued around Honshu, and by the 24th, extremely cold air with temperatures below -36c at an altitude of approximately 5,500m moved southward to the Hokuriku region. In the Sea of Japan, the JPCZ continued to be directed from Hokuriku to the San'in area, and developed snow clouds associated with the JPCZ continued to flow into areas from Hokuriku to the San'in area.

#Precipitation
On the 18th, snow fell from northern Japan to Hokuriku, but the area gradually narrowed. In the Nansei Islands, heavy rain was observed due to the influence of a local front. On the 19th, snow and rain fell mainly on the Sea of Japan side from northern Japan to the Sanin area due to the influence of a front and low pressure. On the 20th, snowfall increased in areas around Hokkaido due to the influence of a low pressure system, and 20 cm of snow was observed in Hamakishibetsu in 3 hours. At night, as the cold air moves southward, the snow becomes heavier in Hokuriku and the shadows of the mountains, and on the 21st, heavy snow fell over a wide area along the Sea of Japan. In Sukayu, Aomori Prefecture, the snow depth exceeded 4 meters, and in Kanazawa, weather information was announced regarding extremely heavy snowfall. Even in the flatlands of the southern Kanto region, snow fell temporarily in places such as Yokohama. Around 4 a.m. on the 22nd, weather information was announced regarding significant heavy snowfall, with 25 cm of snow falling in 6 hours in Hikone. On the 23rd, due to the influence of a low pressure system, heavy snow fell in Hamakishibetsu, Hokkaido, with an amount of 21 cm falling in 3 hours. Near Hokuriku, the JPCZ almost stagnated, and developed snow clouds continued to flow one after another. On the 24th, 37 cm of snow was observed in 6 hours in Kuzuryu, Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, and meteorological information regarding significant heavy snowfall was announced.

#Temperature
On the 18th, the temperature was higher than normal in various places due to the influence of warm air.The highest daily temperature in Tokyo was 13.4c in early March, and in Kochi it rose to 18.7c, about the same level as early April. Hikanzakura blooms in Naha. On the 19th, temperatures continued to be higher than normal in western and eastern Japan, and Chinese cabbage bloomed in five locations in western Japan, including Shimonoseki, Takamatsu, and Kagoshima. On the 20th, the warm weather suddenly changed and strong cold air moved south, making winter cold across the country. In central Tokyo, the temperature was 9.0c, 4.8c lower than the previous day. On the 21st, it was bitterly cold across the country, with many places west of the Kanto region below 10 degrees Celsius, and the highest temperature in Kanazawa was 2.8 degrees Celsius. In Osaka, the temperature was 6.1c. On the 22nd, the number of midwinter day observation points reached 371, the highest number of this season (as of January 22nd), and on the 23rd, the number of winter day observation points reached 775, the highest number of this season (as of January 23rd). On the 24th, it was bitterly cold from northern Japan to the Hokuriku region, with the highest temperature in Sapporo being -2.4c, the fifth consecutive midwinter day. Areas west of the Kanto region are hovering around 10 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature in Tokyo was 11.0c, the first time in five days that it exceeded 10c.