A complete change from the winter storm; sunny weather similar to March; caution against melting snow; warning of strong winds, blizzard and high waves until tomorrow; winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern after passing of low pressure system

2026/01/13 12:20

During the three-day holiday period, the winter shogun invaded and brought winter storms to various places.
Today, the 13th (Tuesday) after the 3-day holiday, a low-pressure system in the Sea of Japan will rapidly develop, passing near Hokkaido and heading into the Sea of Okhotsk, and a cold front will pass from western Japan to northern Japan.
As a result, there are expected to be heavy storms and heavy storms in places along the Japan Sea side of eastern and northern Japan until tomorrow the 14th (Wednesday).



Also, in eastern and northern Japan today, the 13th (Tuesday), atmospheric conditions will be extremely unstable in some places due to the influence of warm and humid air heading towards the low pressure front.
Temperatures will be similar to March in some places, and even on the Sea of Japan side of Hokuriku and southern Tohoku, many coastal areas are expected to experience rain instead of snow.
As the snow continues to melt, please be careful of deteriorating road conditions, falling snow from roofs, and avalanches in mountain areas.

After the low pressure system passes, we will once again have a winter-like pressure pattern.
The cold air in the upper atmosphere is expected to move southward to western Japan once again.
The snow will intensify, especially in northern Japan, causing blizzards in some places.
Please be careful where you step, as new snow may accumulate on top of melted snow, worsening road conditions.



In eastern and northern Japan, extremely strong winds are expected to blow, leading to strong winds and heavy snow in some places tomorrow, Wednesday the 14th.
The maximum instantaneous wind speed expected through tomorrow the 14th (Wednesday) is 35 m/s in Hokuriku and 30 m/s in the Tohoku region.
On the Sea of Japan side of eastern and northern Japan, there will be heavy rain in some places until tomorrow the 14th (Wednesday).
The expected wave height through tomorrow the 14th (Wednesday) is 6m in Hokuriku and Tohoku.



On the Sea of Japan side of eastern and northern Japan, please be careful of strong winds, heavy snow, and high waves until tomorrow the 14th (Wednesday).
Also, in eastern and northern Japan, please be careful of strong gusts of wind such as lightning and tornadoes today, the 13th (Tuesday).

Rapidly developing low pressure system - Beware of strong winds, heavy snowfall, and high waves from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region

2026/01/13 07:38

Today, the 13th (Tuesday), a low pressure system accompanied by a front is moving through the Sea of Japan, and is expected to develop rapidly in the future.
On the Sea of Japan side, this low pressure system will cause very strong winds, and it is expected that there will be strong winds at sea. Additionally, a cold front extending from the center of the cyclone will pass from western Japan to northern Japan, making atmospheric conditions extremely unstable in some places.



As cold air moves northward and warm air from the south tends to enter, many places in Hokuriku and Tohoku will experience rain instead of snow during the day. In inland areas and along the mountains of northern Japan, there are likely to be places with wet snow. As snow melts rapidly in areas with heavy snowfall, please be careful of avalanches and falling snow from roofs.



Also, extremely strong winds will blow from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to Hokuriku, and the weather is likely to be rough. At sea, there are swells and there is a risk of becoming a big rock.




Tonight, the area around Honshu will have a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, and cold air in the upper atmosphere will move southward. From tonight to tomorrow, rain will change to snow in many places from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to Hokuriku. In northern Japan, it is likely that there will be a blizzard in some places due to the effects of a rapidly developing low pressure system. From the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region, please be on guard for strong winds and heavy snowfall through the 14th, as well as high waves accompanied by swells at sea.

Tomorrow, the 13th (Tuesday), there will be a lot of rain on the Sea of Japan side. The snow will melt due to unseasonably warm weather.

2026/01/12 20:54

As of 7 p.m. today, Monday the 12th, snow is falling in some parts of Honshu on the Sea of Japan side from northern Japan to Hokuriku.



It snowed this morning on the flatlands of the Tokai region, with 1cm of snowfall observed in Nagoya City and 11cm in Gifu City, the first snowfall of the season.
Although the peak of snowfall has already passed, there are many places around Tohoku, Kanto-Koshin, and Hokuriku, mainly along the mountains, with more than 100 centimeters of snow.



The winter-like pressure pattern near Honshu is gradually loosening, and a low pressure system is expected to pass through the Sea of Japan tomorrow. Warm air from the south toward the center of the low pressure system tends to enter, and temperatures in many places will be similar to those from February to March. The predicted maximum temperature for tomorrow, the 13th (Monday) is expected to be 2c in Sapporo (similar to late February) and 6c in Akita (similar to early March), so the severe cold is expected to ease. On the Pacific side, temperatures in some places are expected to be around the time cherry blossoms bloom, with temperatures expected to reach 15 degrees Celsius in Tokyo (like late March) and 14 degrees Celsius in Osaka (like mid-March), making it unseasonably warm.



However, in places where snowfall increased during the three-day holiday period, it is likely that snow will melt further due to rain. The Sea of Japan coast from southern Tohoku to Hokuriku and northern Kyushu is expected to experience rain instead of snow in many places, with localized thunderstorms.
There may be places in Hokkaido and northern Tohoku that will experience wet snow. In northern Japan, winds are expected to become stronger due to the developing low pressure system, and blowing snow is expected to occur in some places.

On tomorrow, the 13th (Tuesday), which marks the end of the three-day weekend, please be careful of deteriorating road conditions due to melting snow, snow falling from roofs, and avalanches.
Aircraft will be dry on the sunny Pacific side, so please be careful when handling fire.

Although the Sea of ??Japan side has passed its peak, we continue to be on alert for blizzards, etc.

2026/01/12 06:55

The area around Japan has a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, but it is gradually loosening from the west.
In northern and eastern Japan, very strong winds are blowing, accompanied by snow, and there are places where the sea is swamped.
Also, there are places on the Sea of Japan side of northern and eastern Japan where heavy snow is falling.

As of 6:00, heavy snow warnings have been announced in Tochigi, Gunma, Gifu, and Aichi prefectures, and blizzard warnings have been announced in Niigata prefecture and the Soya, Rumoi, and Ishikari regions of Hokkaido.

Although the peak of wind and snow is passing, it is expected that extremely strong winds will continue to blow in northern and eastern Japan today, the 12th, causing heavy snowfall in some places.

In northern and eastern Japan, please be careful of strong winds, heavy snowfall, and high waves today, the 12th. Also, please be on guard for traffic disruptions due to heavy snow today and into the morning of the 12th.
Also, be careful of lightning, gusts of wind, and hail.




[Wind Forecast]
Today, the 12th, in northern and eastern Japan, very strong winds will blow, accompanied by snow, and there will be places where it will be blustery or violent.

#Expected wind strength
+Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected for today 12th
Hokkaido region 23m/s (35m/s)
Tohoku region 18m /s (30m/s)
Hokuriku region 20m/s (30m/s)

[Wave forecast]
+In northern and eastern Japan, there will be places where there will be heavy waves today, the 12th.

#Expected wave height
+Expected wave height for today 12th
Hokkaido region 6m
Tohoku region 6m
Izu Islands 6m
Hokuriku region 7m With swell

[Snow forecast]
There will be heavy snow in some places in northern and eastern Japan today into the morning of the 12th.

#Expected amount of snow (in places with a lot of it)
+Expected 24-hour snowfall amount by dawn on the 13th tomorrow
Hokkaido region 30cm
Tohoku region 40cm
Kanto-Koshin region 15cm
Hokuriku region 30cm
Tokai region 10cm
Kinki region 15cm

Weather for today, the 12th (Monday): Stormy weather continues to be advised on the Sea of ??Japan side; weather is improving from the west

2026/01/12 06:28

Today, the 12th (Monday), the last day of the three-day holiday, the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will continue, mainly in northern Japan. People on the Japan Sea side north of Hokuriku should continue to be careful of the increasing snow and wind. On the other hand, there are many places on the Pacific side where it will be sunny, and from the west, the weather on the Sea of Japan side seems to be heading toward recovery.



Snow and rain will fall intermittently from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to Hokuriku. The snow will become heavier in the morning, and snowfall will increase in some areas along the mountains and inland, so caution is required. In addition, strong winds will continue, especially in coastal areas, and there will be some places where snowstorms will occur. Please be careful when driving as visibility may deteriorate.
There are many places on the Pacific side of northern Japan that receive sunlight. There is a possibility of snow showers mainly in the morning, so please be careful of changes in the sky.

There will be snow and rain in the northern Kinki and Sanin areas until the morning. The weather will start to improve in the afternoon, and it looks like it will stop in many places.

It will be sunny in many places on the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan. The wind is expected to be calmer than the day before, but the northerly wind is likely to feel cold in areas such as the Kanto region.

The temperature will not rise and it will be cold like midwinter throughout the day. The wind will continue to be strong, so please take precautions against the cold.

Heavy storms mainly on the Sea of ??Japan side. Be wary of heavy snow, storms, high waves, and traffic obstacles

2026/01/11 18:39

There is a well-developed low pressure system with a front line over the Sea of Okhotsk and the sea east of Japan, and it is moving northeast.
On the other hand, there is an anticyclone moving southeast on the continent, which is overhanging to the east.
A strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern is occurring near Japan, and strong cold air with a temperature of -39 degrees Celsius or below is flowing into the air approximately 5,000 meters above the ground.



For this reason, strong or very strong winds are blowing across the country, and there are places where the sea is in trouble.
Also, there are places from northern Japan to western Japan that are experiencing heavy snowfall, and especially from northern Japan to eastern Japan, there are places where heavy snow is falling.



A strong winter-like pressure pattern will continue in the vicinity of Japan until the beginning of tomorrow, the 12th (Monday), resulting in heavy storms.
Due to the effects of strong cold air and a trough in the atmospheric pressure above the area, snowfall will increase from northern to western Japan, and atmospheric conditions will become extremely unstable in some places.

From tomorrow, the 12th (Monday), please be careful of strong winds, heavy snowfall, and high waves from northern to western Japan.
Also, please be wary of traffic disruptions due to heavy snow, blizzard, and snowdrifts on the Japan Sea side of northern and eastern Japan.



###Wind Forecast
From northern Japan to western Japan, extremely strong winds will blow from the 12th, leading to strong winds and heavy snow in some places.

Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected from the 11th to the 12th
Hokkaido region 23 meters (35 meters)
Tohoku region 20 meters (30 meters)
Kanto-Koshin region 25 meters (35 meters)
Hokuriku Region 23 meters (35 meters)
Kinki region 23 meters (35 meters)
Chugoku region 23 meters (35 meters)

### Wave forecast
From northern Japan to western Japan, there will be heavy waves in some places from the 12th.

Expected wave height from the 11th to the 12th
Hokkaido region 6 meters
Tohoku region 7 meters
Kanto-Koshin region 7 meters swell accompanied
Hokuriku region 7 meters with undulations
Kinki region 7 meters with undulations
Chugoku region 7 meters with undulations



###Snow forecast
There will be heavy snow in some places from northern Japan to the Sea of Japan side of western Japan until the 12th.

The amount of snowfall expected in the 24-hour period from 18:00 on the 11th to 18:00 on the 12th is expected to be high in the Hokkaido region. 50cm
Tohoku region 80cm
Kanto-Koshin region 60cm
Hokuriku region 70 cm
Tokai region 70 cm
Kinki region 50 cm
Chugoku region 30 cm


Also, please be on guard for traffic disruptions due to heavy snow, blizzard, and snowdrifts on the Japan Sea side of northern and eastern Japan until the 12th.
Also, be careful of strong wind gusts such as lightning and tornadoes.
If there are signs of a developing cumulonimbus cloud approaching, please take every precaution to ensure your safety, such as moving inside a building.
There is also a risk of hail, so please be careful about managing crops and agricultural facilities.

[This season's strongest cold wave] Heavy snow mainly on the Sea of ??Japan side, beware of blizzard, traffic problems also

2026/01/11 08:12

The area around Japan will experience a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern from today, the 11th (Sunday) to the 12th (Monday), and strong cold air will flow into the sky.
As a result of this, it is expected that there will be severe storms,
heavy snowfall, and heavy snowfall over a wide area from western Japan to northern Japan until the 12th (Sunday).



Extreme vigilance is required for strong winds, heavy snowfall, and high waves from the 12th (Sunday) mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to western Japan. Also, be wary of traffic problems caused by heavy snow, blizzards, and snowdrifts, and avoid making unnecessary movements.
There is a risk of snow accumulation even in the flatlands of western Japan, where it usually does not snow.
Extreme vigilance is required.




[Snow forecast]
There will be heavy snow in some places from northern Japan to western Japan from the 12th.
The expected amount of snowfall in the 24-hour period from 6:00 on the 11th to 6:00 on the 12th is high in some places.
+Hokkaido region 50 cm
+Tohoku region 80 cm
+Kanto-Koshin region 50 cm
+Hokuriku region 80cm
+Tokai region 80cm
+Kinki region 60cm
+Chugoku region 50cm
+Shikoku region 25cm
+Northern Kyushu region 20 cm

Then, the expected 24-hour snowfall from 6:00 on the 12th to 6:00 on the 13th is expected to be as follows:
+Hokkaido region 30 cm
+Tohoku region 40 cm
+Hokuriku region 30cm

[Wind Forecast]
Very strong winds will blow from the Japan Sea side of western Japan to eastern Japan on the 11th, and on the Japan Sea side of northern Japan until the 12th.
Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected on the 11th
+Hokkaido region 25 meters (35 meters)
+Tohoku region 20 meters (30 meters)
+Kanto-Koshin region 23 meters (35 meters)
+Hokuriku region 23 meters (35 meters)
+Kinki region 23 meters (35 meters)
+Chugoku region 23 meters (35 meters)
+Northern Kyushu region 20 meters (30 meters)

Maximum wind speed expected on the 12th (maximum instantaneous wind speed )
+Hokkaido region 23 meters (35 meters)
+Tohoku region 20 meters (30 meters)
+Hokuriku region 20 meters (30 meters)

[The coldest weather this winter] Be wary of heavy snow and blizzard during the second half of the holidays; transportation may be affected; weather for the week

2026/01/10 12:09

#Weather points for the next week#
+The second half of the holidays, the most intense cold air this winter has flown in
+On the Sea of Japan side, warning-level heavy snow and blizzard
+After the holidays, the winter-like pressure pattern becomes stronger again
+Temperatures will rise and fall over the next week



The strongest cold air of this winter is expected to reach -42 degrees or below around 5000m above northern Japan and the Hokuriku region from tomorrow the 11th (Sunday) to the 12th (Holiday) on Coming of Age Day.

In addition, the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will become stronger,
leading to extremely stormy weather mainly on the Sea of Japan side.

Nearly 1m to 1.5m of snow will fall in the second half of the holiday alone, and the snowfall will increase rapidly.
Furthermore, there is a risk of a blizzard accompanied by strong winds.

Snow clouds and rain clouds will temporarily flow in on the Pacific side as well.
There will be places where it will snow and rain.



Forecast for snow, rain, and wind tonight.

Rain and snow clouds are expected to cover parts of the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan, Hokuriku, and the Pacific side of eastern Japan.

Today, due to the influence of warm air heading toward a low pressure system, it looks like there will be many places in northern Japan where it will rain instead of snow.

However, the wind has become stronger from today,
Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected from today 10th (Sat) to 11th (Sun)
Hokkaido region 20 meters (30 meters)
Hokuriku region 23 meters (35 meters)
Chugoku region 23 meters (35 meters)
Northern Kyushu region 20 meters (30 meters)
.



On the 11th (Sunday) tomorrow, a JPCZ (Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone) is expected to form in the Sea of Japan and move toward the Hokuriku region.

JPCZ is a convergence zone created when
cold air currents (northern winds) are divided into two by a high mountain in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula,
and then merge again over the Sea of Japan.

A band of active snow clouds and rain clouds will occur near the convergence zone, and
there is a risk that the amount of snow and rain will increase in areas where this band covers.

A wide range of areas along the Sea of Japan, including Hokuriku and Tohoku, need to be on guard against heavy snow.

In addition, strong winds will bring snow clouds to Kyushu and Shikoku, and
it is likely that snow will accumulate in some places even in flat areas.

It will snow in areas where it doesn't usually snow.

In areas where snow is expected, avoid driving a vehicle without winter tires.

Tomorrow, the 11th (Sunday), is expected to be the peak of snow and wind over a wide area.
Transportation may be affected, so please pay attention to the latest weather and traffic information when traveling during the
holidays.



On the 12th (Monday/holiday), the last day of the long weekend, high pressure will extend from the west, and snow will stop in many places from western Japan.

However, strong winds are still blowing in northern Japan, so vigilance against storms is still necessary.

Maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) expected on the 12th tomorrow (Monday/holiday)
Hokkaido region 20 meters (35 meters)
Tohoku region 23 meters (35 meters)



The expected 24-hour snowfall during the holidays is expected to be 50 cm

from 6 a.m. tomorrow the 11th (Sunday) to 6 a.m. the 12th (Monday/holiday)
Hokkaido region 50 cm
Tohoku region 100cm
Kanto-Koshin region 50cm
Hokuriku region 70cm
Kinki region 70cm
Chugoku region 50cm
r Shikoku region 20 cm
Northern Kyushu region 30 cm
12th (Monday/holiday) 6:00 a.m. to 13th (Tuesday) 6:00 a.m.
Hokkaido region 30 cm
Tohoku region Directions: 50 cm
, Kanto-Koshin region, 10 cm
, Hokuriku region, 30 cm
, Kinki region, 10 cm
, Chugoku region, 10 cm
.



From now on, the temperature is likely to change drastically from day to day, with strong cold air flowing in and out.

The temperature difference will be large, so please be careful not to get sick.

Also, the air on the Pacific side continues to be dry, so
please be careful when handling fire.

El Nino Monitoring News: La Nina-like conditions are rapidly dissolving, and normal conditions are expected to continue in spring

2026/01/10 07:53

On the 9th (Friday), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the latest El Nino monitoring bulletin.

Currently, the situation appears to be normal, with neither El Nino nor La Nina occurring, but conditions are close to La Nina. This situation is expected to rapidly resolve towards the end of winter.

The difference in sea surface temperature in the El Nino monitoring area in December from the standard value was -0.6c, which was lower than the standard value. Additionally, the five-month moving average used to determine the occurrence of El Nino and La Nina phenomena in October was -0.5 C, close to the standard value.
Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean remained higher than normal in the western region and lower than normal in the eastern region. The easterly winds (trade winds) in the lower atmosphere of the equatorial Pacific region were slightly stronger than normal throughout the region, and convective activity became inactive near the international date line in the equatorial Pacific region.

From the above, although it is a normal state where neither El Nino nor La Nina phenomena have occurred, the situation is close to that of La Nina.



According to the live report, warm water on the surface of the ocean from the western part of the equatorial Pacific Ocean to around the international date line is moving eastward. For this reason, the integrated atmosphere-ocean model predicts that sea surface temperatures in the El Nino monitoring area will rise as the warm water moves eastward, reaching a value close to the standard value by the end of winter. Furthermore, towards the end of spring, the value will remain close to or higher than the standard value.

From the above, the La Nina-like conditions are expected to rapidly resolve towards the end of winter, and normal conditions will continue into spring.


#What is the El Nino/La Nina phenomenon
The El Nino phenomenon is a phenomenon in which sea surface temperatures are higher than normal from the equatorial Pacific Ocean near the international date line to the coast of South America, and this condition continues for about a year.

On the other hand, a phenomenon in which sea surface temperatures continue to be lower than normal in the same area is called a La Nina phenomenon.

Once an El Nino or La Nina phenomenon occurs, it is thought that abnormal weather will occur all over the world, including Japan.

Winter storms have arrived - Be wary of heavy snow and blizzards especially along the Sea of Japan during the three-day weekend

2026/01/10 07:46

Today, the 10th (Saturday), a low pressure system is rapidly developing as it moves through the Sea of Japan. On the 11th, the middle day of the three-day holiday, a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern will strengthen as extremely cold air moves southward in the sky, and there is a risk of heavy snow and blizzards mainly on the Sea of Japan side from tomorrow until the 12th (Monday).




Today, the 10th (Saturday), the weather will be downhill from northern Japan to western Japan on the Sea of Japan side due to the influence of a low pressure front. It will gradually start to rain in the afternoon, and there may be some places on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan that will experience wet snow. Please be careful of thunderstorms and gusts of wind, such as tornadoes, as they may be accompanied by lightning. On the Pacific side of eastern Japan, it is likely to rain in some places tonight, including the Kanto coast and the Izu Islands.



Also, on the Sea of Japan side, the isobars are narrowly spaced, and there will be places where very strong winds blow from the west. The maximum wind speed is expected to reach 23 meters at strong points, and the maximum instantaneous wind speed is expected to reach 35 meters. At sea, the wave height will be over 6 meters. Please be careful of strong winds and high waves.
Western and southwesterly winds will be strong in both western Japan and eastern Japan on the Pacific side, so please be careful of strong winds and high waves in coastal areas.



Tomorrow, the 11th (Saturday), extremely strong cold air with temperatures below -36c at an altitude of about 5000m, which is an indicator of heavy snow, will move south toward Honshu. A strong winter-like pressure pattern will form near Honshu, with narrow isobars, and extremely strong winds will continue to blow on the Sea of Japan side. There is a risk of heavy snow and blizzard, mainly on the Sea of Japan side.



Looking at the snow forecast for tomorrow, the 11th (Sunday), band-shaped snow clouds are expected to develop in an area called the Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone (JPCZ), where northwesterly winds and westward winds collide. Snow clouds are moving into the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions one after another, and there is a risk that snowfall will increase rapidly in a short period of time.
In the Tohoku region, snowfall is expected to reach 100 centimeters in the 24-hour period from 6 a.m. on the 11th to 6 a.m. on the 12th in some places. There is a risk of 24-hour snowfall of 50 to 70 centimeters in many places along the mountains from Hokkaido, Kanto-Koshin to the Chugoku region, and snow is expected to fall in some places along the mountains and flatlands of Shikoku and Kyushu. Even areas that don't usually get snow may experience heavy snowfall.

Be wary of traffic obstructions and poor visibility caused by heavy snow and blizzards, and be aware of deteriorating road conditions. Transportation may be significantly affected, so please be sure to check the latest transportation information.
Also, please be careful of snow falling from the roof, fallen trees due to snow accumulation, and avalanches.