On February 4th, some regions of Japan, including Hokkaido, experienced a record-breaking snowfall. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, by 10 a.m. on this day, the eastern Hokkaido city of Obihiro received 120 centimeters of snow in 12 hours, marking the highest snowfall ever recorded in Japan. Previously, the highest 12-hour snowfall was 91 centimeters, recorded on December 24, 2022, in Oguchi Town, Yamagata Prefecture, as reported by Kyodo News.
The record snowfall in Hokkaido led to the temporary closure of 379 elementary, middle, and high schools, and significant transportation disruptions occurred, with numerous flight cancellations at Obihiro Airport. Snowfall also affected a wide area from Hokkaido to regions including Niigata Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Gifu Prefecture on Honshu and Kyushu.
Japanese weather authorities have forecasted that cold air entering the Japanese archipelago could potentially bring snow to Hokkaido until the 6th, with heavy snow warnings possibly being issued in various places.
[Photo source: Kyodo = Yonhap News]