A rapidly developing low-pressure system is bringing snow to flatlands in the southern part of Japan's Kanto region, including central Tokyo, on Friday morning.
Weather officials are calling on people to be on the alert for traffic disruptions and icy roads as snow is expected to continue falling for the next few hours.
In the three hours through 8 a.m., 9 centimeters of snow fell in the Nasu Kogen highland in Tochigi Prefecture, 3 centimeters in Saitama City, and 1 centimeter in central Tokyo and Yokohama.
In the 24 hours through Saturday morning, up to 20 centimeters of snow is expected in the Koshin region, up to 8 centimeters in mountainous areas, northern Kanto, and up to 5 centimeters in flatlands in northern and southern Kanto, including Tokyo's 23 wards.
A cold air mass and another low-pressure system are expected to create unstable atmospheric conditions in western Japan through Friday evening and in eastern Japan through Saturday.
Caution is advised for lightning strikes, gusty winds, tornadoes, sudden downpours and hail.
nhk
