Record-breaking heavy snowfall on the Sea of ??Japan side; some places on the Pacific side had 0 mm of precipitation; Saturday and Sunday were bitterly cold, with "alarm-level heavy snow" again on the Sea of ??Japan side

2026/02/03 12:57

#Weekly weather points#
4th (Wednesday) to 6th (Friday) Temperature rise Be careful of sudden snow melt!
7th (Sat) - 8th (Sun) Intense cold air hits, snowfall increases again on the Japan Sea side
Possibility of snow in Kanto on 7th (Sat)



Snow depth (compared to normal) as of 11am today, February 3rd (Tuesday).

Sapporo City had 99 centimeters of snow, 148% of normal snowfall, and Aomori City had 175 centimeters of snow, 254% of normal snowfall.

Also, at 1 a.m. today, 139 centimeters of snow was recorded in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, and at 2 a.m., 144 centimeters were recorded in Takanosu, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture, both of which recorded the heaviest amount of snow since statistics began in 1979.

Record heavy snowfall is occurring in various places.



Looking at the precipitation in Sapporo and Aomori over the past 30 days,
the precipitation is about twice the normal amount.
(Snow is measured as precipitation after melting)

On the other hand, due to the continued winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern on the Pacific side,
almost no rain or snow fell, and the precipitation for the previous 30 days
on the Pacific side was 0 mm (0% of normal) in many places.

Snow clouds and rain clouds tend to flow in from the Sea of Japan side
Nagoya and Kyoto have also reached 0mm,
The Pacific side is widely dry.

As the air continues to be dry, we need to be careful when handling fire.



#4th (Wednesday) - 6th (Friday) Temperature rise Be careful of sudden snow melt! #

From tomorrow, the 4th (Wednesday), the atmospheric pressure will be high in the south and low in the north, and warm air will tend to flow into
6th (Friday).

Temperatures are expected to rise day by day in the second half of the week, and
where there is a lot of snow, the snow is expected to melt rapidly.

We would like to proceed with the snow removal work while the snow has weakened and the weather is sunny, but
there is a possibility that the snow that has accumulated on the roof will fall all at once.

The number of accidents during snow removal has also increased considerably.
Remove snow with multiple people and avoid walking under the eaves.



#7th (Saturday) - 8th (Sunday) Intense cold air hits Heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side, snow in the Kanto region#

On Saturday and Sunday, strong cold air will flow in again, and the snow will become heavier on the Sea of Japan side again.

There is a possibility of warning-level heavy snow again in the San'in region and Hokuriku region.

Also, there is a possibility that a front or low pressure system will move eastward to the south of Japan,
There is also a possibility of snow falling on the Pacific side.

There is a possibility of snow or rain especially on Saturday the 7th, especially in the southern Kanto region, so
Please pay attention to the latest information.




Finally, the weekly weather.

Towards the latter half of the week, there are likely to be days when temperatures will exceed average and feel warmer.

However, intense cold air will move in on Saturday and Sunday,
and it is expected to be bitterly cold across the country.
Please be careful not to get sick due to the temperature difference.

Fukuoka also has a snow symbol.
Please be aware of the impact on transportation.

Weather for the week: In areas with heavy snowfall, be careful of sudden snow melting due to rising temperatures; strong cold will return to the south on Saturday and Sunday

2026/02/03 08:02

From tomorrow, the 4th (Wednesday) to the 6th (Friday), cold air will retreat northward over Honshu, making it easier for warm air to enter from the south. Temperatures are expected to be higher than normal in many places, and some places will experience warmth around mid-to-late March. The cold will ease, but in areas with heavy snowfall, the rise in temperature may cause the snow to melt quickly.
In areas with heavy snowfall, please be careful of deteriorating road conditions, snow falling from roofs, and avalanches.




A low-pressure system is expected to develop and advance over the Sea of Japan from the 5th (Thursday) to the 6th (Friday). As a result, there is a risk of stormy weather on the 6th (Friday), with increased snow, rain, and strong winds, especially in northern Japan.
Also, as the low pressure system passes through the Sea of Japan and advances through the Sea of Okhotsk, the area around Honshu will become winter-like, and strong cold air in the upper atmosphere will move southward. The mid-winter cold is returning nationwide, and the temperature is likely to fluctuate significantly.

Around the 7th and 8th, it is likely that there will be rain and snow in places from western Japan to the Pacific side of eastern Japan due to the effects of pressure troughs and fronts. On the Sea of Japan side, there is a risk of heavy snow and blizzards due to the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern with strong cold air.
Please pay attention to the latest weather information that will be updated in the future.

Today's weather on the 3rd (Tuesday): The winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern is expected to ease, and snow is expected to settle down on the Sea of Japan side

2026/02/03 06:52

Today, the 3rd (Tuesday), which marks Setsubun, the winter-like atmospheric pressure will gradually loosen. The snow on the Sea of Japan side is expected to calm down little by little.

On the Sea of Japan coast from northern Japan to the Sanin area, snow will fall mainly in the morning. In northern Japan, there are likely to be some places where the snow will temporarily become stronger and cause a blizzard. In the afternoon, the snowfall will gradually become smaller and will stop in many places by tonight.

The area west of the Kanto region on the Pacific Ocean side is sunny and sunny, but the northerly wind is likely to feel cold. Be sure to take all possible measures to protect yourself from the cold. Also, since the air will remain dry, please be careful when handling fire.



Tomorrow, the 4th (Wednesday), the area around Honshu will be covered by high pressure, making it easier for warm air to enter from the south. Temperatures near Honshu are expected to be higher than normal in many places around the 6th (Friday). However, in areas with heavy snowfall, snow melting is likely to progress as temperatures rise.
Please be careful of deteriorating road conditions, falling snow from roofs, and avalanches. In addition, please be very careful to avoid accidents while removing snow, and when removing snow from the roof, please wear safety ropes and helmets and use multiple people to remove snow from the roof.

Tonight is a full moon.February's full moon is a snow moon.I'm curious about the weather tonight.

2026/02/02 16:30

Today, February 2nd (Monday), there is a full moon.
February's full moon is called the "snow moon."
It is said that Native Americans gave each full moon a name to use as a guide for farming and hunting.
February came to be called the ``Snow Moon'' because it was a time when the United States was covered in snow and hunting was difficult depending on the region and climate conditions.



#What's the weather like tonight
The area around Japan has a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern.
Okinawa is covered in high pressure at night and becomes clear, so the later the night, the better your chances of observing it.
There are times when it rains or snows in Kyushu, Sanyo, Shikoku, and the southern Kinki region, but if it's late at night, you'll have a chance to observe through the gaps in the clouds.
There is a high possibility of observation along the Pacific coast.



Tonight, a low pressure system will advance near Hokuriku, and it will be difficult to observe the full moon due to snow and rain in the Sanin area, northern Kinki, and Hokuriku.
In the Tokai region, there are places in Gifu Prefecture where it snows, but there are many other places where it will be sunny and observable.
Off the coast of Kanto, clouds are expected to form as northerly winds and westerly winds collide.
There may be some places where it rains or snows, but there are many places where there will be opportunities for observation.
Due to the cold air in northern Japan, snow is expected to fall mainly on the Sea of Japan side.
There will be times when you can see it through the gaps in the clouds on the Pacific side.

Today, February 2nd (Monday), the sun sets in Tokyo at 5:09 pm and the moon rises at 5:31 pm.

Heavy snow warning continues on the Sea of ??Japan side of northern Japan. In Aomori, heavy snowfall that is difficult to remove, traffic obstruction, snow falling from roofs, etc.

2026/02/02 07:25

The area around Japan has a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern, and today, the 2nd (Monday), cold air with temperatures below -36c is expected to flow into the Tohoku region at an altitude of 5,000 meters.
Also, a trough of atmospheric pressure including a low pressure system is expected to pass through Hokkaido today, the 2nd (Monday).
As a result, heavy snowfall is expected to continue intermittently in the southern part of Hokkaido on the Sea of Japan side and in Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture, into the late evening of Monday, the 2nd.



In Aomori Prefecture, due to the snow that has fallen so far, there are some places where the snowfall is more than double the normal level, and it is expected to increase further into the late evening of today, 2nd (Monday).
In Tsugaru, the snowfall has become difficult to remove, and the heavy snowfall is expected to continue until noon today, the 2nd (Monday), with even more snowfall expected. Strict vigilance must be taken to avoid traffic disruptions due to heavy snow, snow falling from roofs, and damage to buildings and agricultural facilities.
Also, be careful of wet snow accreting on power lines and trees, and avalanches on slopes with heavy snowfall.

Please be careful of traffic problems and avalanches caused by heavy snow in the Ishikari region of Hokkaido. Depending on the trend of the low pressure system, snow clouds may continue to flow into the same area, leading to warning-level heavy snow.



#Snow commentary
+24-hour snowfall amount as of 03:00 today, 2nd (Monday) (preliminary report by AMeDAS)
Imabetsu 25cm
Mutsu City Wakinosawa 25cm
Aomori 19cm
Noheji 17cm *Includes missing values
Goshogawara 14cm
+Snow depth as of 03:00 today, 2nd (Monday) (preliminary value by AMeDAS) )
Aomori City Sukayu 456cm
Aomori 172cm
Aomori Otani 169cm
Five Tokogawara 145cm
Hirosaki 132cm

#Expected amount of snow (in places with a lot)
+Tomorrow 3 days (Tue) Expected 24-hour snowfall by dawn
Northern Hokkaido Sea of Japan side 30cm
Southern Hokkaido Sea of Japan side 40c m
Along the mountains of Tsugaru 50cm
The flatlands of Tsugaru 50cm
Along the mountains of Shimokita 40cm
Shimokita flatland 40cm
Sanya Kamikita mountainside 40cm
Sanya Kamikita flatland 40cm

Today's 2nd (Monday) weather: Continued snow and rain on the Sea of ??Japan side, weather downhill in western Japan

2026/02/02 06:45

Today, the 2nd (Monday), a low pressure system is expected to move eastward across the Sea of Japan. Snow falls more easily north of Hokuriku, and caution should be taken to avoid temporary snowfall. Although it will be sunny on the Pacific side, you should be careful of showers in the afternoon.



It will snow intermittently on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku. Please be aware of the sudden increase in snowfall, as there is a risk that the rain may become stronger and may be accompanied by thunder. The Pacific side of northern Japan will be mostly sunny. Please be aware of changes in the weather as there are places where snow clouds may temporarily move in.

The sunshine will reach the Kanto and Tokai regions. There is a possibility of showers in coastal areas at night, so if you are returning late, it is a good idea to bring a foldable umbrella.

The weather in western Japan is going downhill as a low pressure system approaches. In the afternoon, rain and snow will spread from the Sea of Japan side, and rain is expected to start falling on the Pacific side as well, with thunderstorms expected in some places. Please bring rain gear when going out.

On the weekend of the voting day, the weather will become more winter-like and rough on the Sea of ??Japan side! Weather from the beginning of the week

2026/02/01 17:44

There is a trough of atmospheric pressure over the Sea of Okhotsk and the sea far east of Japan.
Also, there is a low pressure system near Hokkaido that is moving southeast.
On the other hand, there is a high pressure system over the continent that extends to the east, creating a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern around Japan.
Currently, it is snowing and raining on the Sea of Japan coast from Hokkaido to the Sanin area.



At the beginning of the week, tomorrow, the 2nd (Monday), a low pressure system will move into the Sea of Japan, and a pressure trough will pass over western Japan.
For this reason, there will be many places on the Sea of Japan side and western Japan where it will snow and rain.



In "Setsubun" on the 3rd (Tuesday), the winter-type pressure distribution will loosen from the west and high pressure will spread.
The sun is expected to reach a wide area in western and eastern Japan.

The high pressure system is expected to move eastward in the south of Japan until the 4th (Wednesday), the ``first day of spring'' in the 24 solar terms.
On the 5th (Thursday), a low pressure system will move toward Hokkaido, so warm air will enter from the south from the 4th to the 5th, and temperatures will rise in many places during the day.



From the night of the 5th (Thursday) to the 6th (Friday), a low pressure system is expected to develop and pass near Hokkaido.
The atmospheric pressure distribution near Japan is expected to gradually change to a winter-like pattern, and strong cold air is expected to flow into the upper atmosphere.
There is a risk of stormy weather, with increasing rain, snow, and wind, mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan.





And next weekend, the winter-like pressure pattern will become stronger.
Extremely cold air is expected to move southward, making it very cold across the country.
On the Sea of Japan side, you need to be careful about poor visibility and the impact on traffic due to heavy snow and blizzard.
The 8th (Sunday) is the voting day for the House of Representatives election. It may be a good idea to consider early voting.

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.