Weather for today, the 19th (Thursday): Weather gradually improving from the west; rain in Kanto until morning

2026/03/19 06:25

Today, the 19th (Thursday), the low pressure system and front that brought rain over a wide area the previous day (18th) will gradually move away to the east of Japan, so the weather will improve in many places during the day, even if there is still rain in the morning.



Clouds tend to spread in Hokkaido due to the influence of cold air above, and there are likely to be places where it will snow or rain. Please pay attention to changes in the sky.

The sky in Tohoku is dominated by clouds on the Sea of Japan side. There will be some rain and snow until the morning, but it is expected to stop by the afternoon. Sunshine will reach the Pacific side.

Although there will be some areas of eastern and western Japan where the rain will remain until the morning, the weather will gradually improve and many areas will see sunshine in the afternoon. Please be aware that in the Kanto region, there is a risk of strong rain and wind during commuting hours. Also, please be careful not to leave your rain gear behind when you return.

Clouds tend to spread in Okinawa, and there are times when it rains, so please prepare rain gear when going out.

[Forecast for cherry blossom blooming in the Chugoku region] Will it be early this year When is cherry blossom viewing (Commentary: Weather forecaster Atsuko Miyake)

2026/03/18 14:16

Today we will tell you the latest forecast for cherry blossom blooming in the Kyushu region in 2026.



Yesterday, cherry blossoms bloomed in Nagoya.
Including the locations where it has bloomed so far,
is blooming about a week earlier than normal.
What will happen to the cherry blossoms in the Chugoku region


This year's cherry blossoms are expected to bloom earlier than normal in the Chugoku region.

The reason why the forecast is earlier than normal in the Chugoku region is that the temperature in February of this year was higher.



Let's take a look at the maximum temperatures since February 1 of this year compared to normal years at Hiroshima in Sanyo and Matsue in Sanin.

Temperatures were warmer than normal in Sanyo, especially from mid-to-late February, and even in Sanin, there were days when temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above normal.

The cold weather returned in March, but the unusually warm weather in February seems to have helped the cherry blossom buds grow smoothly.
For this reason, we expect the flowers to bloom earlier than normal.



Let's take a look at the flowering forecasts for each region.

The earliest flowering area in the Chugoku region is predicted to be in Hiroshima on March 20th, the vernal equinox.

Next, Shimonoseki is expected to arrive around March 24th,
Matsue around March 26th, Tottori around March 27th, and Okayama around March 28th.
However, I think that Okayama will bloom a day or two earlier.



There are standards for the blooming of this cherry blossom.
This is a specimen tree that is used by the Japan Meteorological Agency to monitor flowering conditions.
A state in which 5 to 6 flowers have bloomed is called flowering.
Also, the same tree is said to be in full bloom when more than 80% of its buds are open.

The number of days from flowering to full bloom depends on the weather and location, but
on average it takes about a week.
It would be a good idea to plan for cherry blossom viewing from late March to early April.



Let's take a look at the detailed weather ahead.
There will be widespread rain this afternoon, followed by heavy rain tonight.
If you will be returning home late, please bring a large umbrella.

It looks like the rain will stop at dawn on the 19th (Thursday).
The weather will improve during the day tomorrow, with sunny skies returning.

On Friday the 20th, the vernal equinox, both the Sanyo and Sanin areas will be sunny, and the sun will feel warm during the day.

The clouds will increase towards the end of the three-day weekend, but the weather will not deteriorate.
The front will remain stationary in the first half of next week, making it cloudy and rainy.
However, the temperature will be high, and it will be warm enough to make the cherry blossom buds swell.

[Rain clouds spreading from the west] There are some places where the rain is getting stronger tonight. What will the weather be like for the 3-day weekend (Commentary: Weather forecaster Atsuko Miyake)

2026/03/18 14:01

The Pacific side of western and eastern Japan has been experiencing low rainfall since last fall.

Today, rain clouds are spreading from the west,
It looks like it will be a ``blessing rain'' for areas that have had little rain.



This is what the rain clouds look like at 11am.
There are rain clouds over western Japan due to low pressure and fronts.
However, there are no very well-developed rain clouds, and it is only a light rain of around 1mm per hour.



After this, it will start raining in the Kinki and Tokai regions in the evening, and
it will start raining in Hokuriku at night.

By the time the date changes, there are likely to be some places in Kyushu, Shikoku, and the Tokai region where
there will be heavy rain accompanied by thunder.
Please be careful of sudden rain, lightning, and gusts of wind.

When the date changes to tomorrow,
it will start raining in the Kanto and northern Tohoku regions, and
it is likely to snow in some places in the northern Tohoku region and high mountains.

There are likely to be some places where the rain peaks during the dark hours of the night.
However, the rain clouds that have developed are expected to move out to the eastern sea by tomorrow morning.



The low pressure system and front will move away from Honshu tomorrow night.
As the weather is covered by high pressure from the west, the weather is expected to improve from the west tomorrow.



Today, rain clouds will spread from the west,
It will rain from Kyushu to Tohoku.
In Shikoku, there is a risk of heavy rain accompanied by thunder late at night, so please be careful about how it rains.

Temperatures will be high even with rain,
Western and Eastern Japan will likely reach 15c to 20c.



The rain tomorrow will last until morning,
It will be sunny in many places during the day.
In Hokkaido and northern Tohoku, cold air will move in in the afternoon,
There are likely to be some places where it will snow or rain.

The warm air remains,
daytime tomorrow will be as warm as mid to late April.
Please wear clothes that are easy to put on and take off tomorrow.



Weekly weather.
For the three-day weekend starting on the 20th, the vernal equinox, the Pacific side is expected to be sunny for the first half of the day,
being covered by high pressure.
In the latter half of the holidays, the sun is likely to reach even the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan.

For the first half of next week, the front will remain stationary near Honshu,
and the weather will continue to be cloudy and rainy.

Heavy rain will occur over a wide area from today 18th (Wednesday) to tomorrow 19th (Thursday)

2026/03/18 12:52

Rain is expected to fall over a wide area from today, the 18th (Wednesday) to tomorrow, the 19th (Thursday), due to the effects of a low pressure system and front passing near Honshu.
After this, the high pressure system covering the area around Honshu will move to the east of Japan, and the low pressure system with a front from the East China Sea will approach the area around Kyushu. The area of rain will gradually spread from western Japan to eastern Japan and northern Japan.



Rain has already begun in some places in the Kyushu and Kinki regions. After this, the rain is expected to spread to the Tokai and Hokuriku regions by the afternoon of Wednesday the 18th, and rain and snow are expected to start falling in the Kanto and Tohoku regions late at night. Even in areas where it's not currently raining, it's safe to go out with an umbrella.



Please be aware that in the Kyushu, Shikoku, Kinki, and Tokai regions, from tonight until dawn on the 19th (Thursday), the rain will temporarily intensify as a front passes through, and it is likely that there will be some places with thunderstorms.



In the morning of tomorrow, Thursday the 19th, snow and rain will begin to fall in southern Hokkaido. In the Hokkaido region, another low-pressure system is approaching from the coastal region, and there will be snow and rain in some places in the afternoon, mainly on the Sea of Japan side.
Clouds tend to spread even on the Japan Sea side from Tohoku to Hokuriku, and there are some places where it will continue to rain or snow, but the weather will gradually improve in the afternoon.

The rain in western and eastern Japan is expected to stop by the afternoon of tomorrow, the 19th (Thursday).

In the Okinawa region, clouds will likely spread tomorrow (Thursday, the 19th) due to the influence of the front, and there will be some places where it will rain for a while.

[Kyushu Cherry Blossom Forecast] When will cherry blossoms bloom and be in full bloom this year (Commentary: Weather forecaster Atsuko Miyake)

2026/03/17 14:13

Yesterday, March 16th (Monday), cherry blossoms bloomed in Kochi, Gifu, and Kofu, and in Kofu, it was the earliest blooming in recorded history.
In various places, the flowers bloomed about a week earlier than normal.



This year, the Kyushu region is also expected to bloom at a normal level and earlier than normal.

The reason for the forecast being earlier than normal is that
the temperature was higher this February.

Let's take a look at the highest temperatures in Fukuoka and Kagoshima as representative locations in Kyushu since February 1 of this year compared to normal.



It was especially warm from mid-February to late February,
There were days when the temperature was 5 to 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal.

Although the cold weather returned in March, the warmth of February seems to have helped the cherry blossom buds grow smoothly.
For this reason, we expect the flowers to bloom earlier than normal.




Now, let's take a look at the flowering forecast for each region.
The earliest place in the Kyushu region that is predicted to bloom is March 20th, the spring equinox in Fukuoka.
Next, the flowers are expected to bloom in Nagasaki on March 21st,
Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Saga around March 22nd,
Oita around March 25th, and Kagoshima around March 26th.

There are standards for this cherry blossom blooming.
This is a specimen tree that is used by the Japan Meteorological Agency to monitor flowering conditions.
A state in which 5 to 6 flowers have bloomed is called flowering.
The tree is said to be in full bloom when more than 80% of the buds are open.

The number of days from flowering to full bloom is about one week, depending on the weather and location.

From now on, the temperature is going to be high, and the cherry blossom buds are going to swell all at once.




Let's take a look at the future weather in the Kyushu region.

Today, the 17th (Tuesday), it will be sunny, but tomorrow, the 18th (Wednesday), a low pressure system and a front will pass and there will be widespread rain.
It looks like there will be heavy rain in some places, accompanied by thunder.
The rain is likely to stop on the afternoon of the 19th (Thursday).

The spring equinox on the 20th (Friday) is expected to be broadly sunny and
with a maximum temperature of around 20c.

Although there will be more clouds towards the end of the three-day weekend,
temperatures will be on the higher side, and news of cherry blossoms blooming will continue to arrive.

Severe drowning in the south of Japan due to low pressure [Ocean summary (March 8-14, 2026)]

2026/03/17 12:43

Due to the effects of two low-pressure systems near Ogasawara, waves were high in a wide area on the Pacific side, and there were areas in the east of Japan that were heavily flooded and areas in the south of Japan that were severely flooded.
The following is a summary of the ocean (March 8-14, 2026).



#Pressure distribution and waves
On the 8th, the pressure distribution near Japan was high in the west and low in the east, and waves were high in a wide area around Japan.
On the 9th, the pressure pattern of high in the west and low in the east loosened from the west, and waves in the sea near Japan remained calm at night.
On the 10th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front developed and moved eastward east of Japan. From the 11th to the 12th, this low pressure system slowed down east of Japan.
To the east of Japan, the sea area with high waves gradually expanded, and the area of barges around the low pressure area also expanded.
On the 13th, a low pressure system with a front moved eastward south of Japan, and another low pressure system moved northeast east of the Kuril Islands.
The gradient in atmospheric pressure between these low pressure systems and the continental high pressure system increased, causing waves to rise in the seas near Japan.
On the 14th, two low-pressure systems near Ogasawara caused high waves across the Pacific Ocean.
There was a sea area in the east of Japan that was heavily flooded, and in the south of Japan that was severely flooded.



#Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperatures in the Japanese waters expanded to areas where they were higher than normal in the northern and western regions.
The East China Sea continued to be slightly higher than normal.
The waters around the Nansei Islands continued to be at normal levels.
The southern part of Japan is at normal levels, and off the coast of the Tokai region, areas slightly lower than normal have expanded.
The sea area from the east of Kanto to the southern part of the coast of Sanriku continued to be significantly warmer than normal, with temperatures up to 4 C higher than normal.
The northern Sanriku coast, the southeastern coast of Hokkaido, the waters around the Chishima Islands, and the Sea of Okhotsk were at normal levels, but the sea ice area gradually expanded in the waters near the Chishima Islands and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Weather for the week: After the three-day weekend, it will be warm like spring, and the cherry blossoms will bloom smoothly.

2026/03/17 08:37

It is expected that many places will be relatively sunny during the upcoming three-day holiday period. Temperatures across the country will be higher than normal, and will be as warm as April. It looks like the cherry blossoms will start blooming.





Tomorrow, the 18th (Wednesday), a low pressure system and front will approach from the west. In western Japan, it will be raining in the morning in Kyushu, Chugoku, and Shikoku, and you will need an umbrella if you go out. The area of rain will spread to the Kinki, Tokai, and Hokuriku regions from evening to night, and there is a possibility of heavy rain accompanied by thunder in parts of the Pacific Ocean, so caution is required.

The day after tomorrow, the 19th (Thursday), the rain will spread to the Kanto and Tohoku regions, with localized thunderstorms. However, the low pressure system is expected to gradually move away from the sea east of Japan, and the front is expected to gradually move south toward the sea south of Honshu. For this reason, the rain in Tohoku and Kanto is likely to be concentrated in the morning.

On the 20th (Friday), the first day of the three-day holiday, northern Japan is likely to experience temporary rain due to pressure troughs and low-pressure systems, and it is likely to snow in some places in Hokkaido. In the Kanto region, clouds tend to spread due to localized fronts and low pressure systems, and there is a possibility of temporary rain. In western Japan, there will be many sunny places.

On Saturday the 21st, high pressure will cover many places and it will likely be sunny, but the next front is expected to approach the Nansei Islands. There are currently no major weather forecasts expected for the last day of the three-day weekend, but please keep an eye on future forecast changes.

The expected maximum temperature in the future is expected to be around or above normal in many places across the country, and after the three-day weekend, many places will experience higher than normal temperatures. Even though it will rain, the temperature is not expected to drop significantly, and the cherry blossoms are likely to bloom smoothly.
From Kyushu to Tohoku, cedar pollen is at its peak. After the rain, the amount of scattering tends to increase, so you need to be careful. Also, from late March to early April, cypress pollen will begin to scatter. If you are susceptible to symptoms, please continue to take precautions.

Cherry blossoms blooming announced in Kofu, Gifu, and Kochi; Kofu records the earliest blooming date in recorded history

2026/03/16 21:46

Today, the 16th (Monday), the blooming of cherry blossoms (Somei Yoshino) was announced in Kofu, Gifu, and Kochi.

With the rise in temperature, the growth of cherry blossom buds has progressed, and some spots on Honshu are starting to bloom. The locations where the flowers bloomed on the 16th all had earlier blooms than normal and last year. Kochi was the first in the country to announce that the flowers had bloomed, Gifu was the earliest in recorded history, and Kofu recorded the earliest in recorded history.



From now on, warm air is expected to prevail over the weekend. Temperatures will continue to rise across the country, with some places likely to be warmer than normal.

For this reason, the cherry blossoms are expected to bloom smoothly. In late March, cherry blossoms will bloom in many areas of western and eastern Japan. It is expected to occur around March 19th in Tokyo, around March 20th in Hiroshima, and around March 25th in Osaka.

In April, the cherry blossom front will advance towards northern Japan and will begin blooming in Tohoku. Sendai is expected to arrive around April 3rd, and Akita around April 13th.

From late April onwards, the cherry blossom front will advance towards Hokkaido. The flowers are expected to bloom in Hakodate around April 23rd, and in Wakkanai and Abashiri in mid-May.

The weather will deteriorate over a wide area around the 18th and 19th, and the front will remain stationary in the south of Honshu during the three-day weekend.

2026/03/16 13:13

In the middle of this week, from the 18th (Wednesday) to the 19th (Thursday), the weather will deteriorate over a wide area and it will rain due to the effects of low pressure and fronts. During the three-day holiday period starting on the 20th (Friday), the front is expected to stall in the south of Japan from the 21st (Saturday) to the 22nd (Sunday), and clouds will likely spread over the Pacific side.



On the 18th (Wednesday), a low pressure system that formed on the front of the continent is expected to pass through the East China Sea and move east toward Kyushu. After that, the low pressure system is expected to pass near Honshu and move east of Japan until the 19th (Thursday).
Rain will begin to fall early on the morning of the 18th (Wednesday) in places such as Kyushu, and by noon the rain will spread to Chugoku and Shikoku, and in the afternoon to mainly western Japan.



On the 19th (Thursday), rain will be widespread from eastern Japan to the Tohoku region. Rain is expected to remain in some parts of the Kanto region until the 20th (Friday).

As a low pressure system or front approaches, the rain and wind may temporarily increase, so please be careful.

A stationary front is expected to extend over the southern seas of Honshu from the 21st (Saturday) to the 22nd (Sunday) during the three-day holiday period.
Clouds are spreading over the Pacific side of Kyushu, Okinawa, Shikoku, and Honshu, and the weather is likely to be prone to rain in some areas.
However, the forecast is a little into the future, so it may change depending on the position of the front where it stagnates. If the front approaches Honshu, there is a possibility of rain mainly on the Pacific side, so please check the latest weather forecast.



The weather is expected to deteriorate in some places after the 18th (Wednesday), but the temperature will be around or above normal across the country, and the cold weather will not return.

4th Cherry Blossom Bloom Date Forecast Western and Eastern Japan are expected to be near normal or early. Some locations will see blooming later this week.

2026/03/16 06:58

Our company Sunny Spot will announce the expected date of the 4th cherry blossom blooming. Please use this information when planning your cherry blossom viewing.

The forecast for cherry blossom blooming in 2026 is that from western Japan to eastern Japan, the cherry blossoms will bloom at a normal level or earlier than normal. In addition, in many places in northern Japan, the flowers will bloom earlier than normal.



From now on, the cold air is expected to recede and warm air is expected to prevail over the weekend. Temperatures will continue to rise across the country, and many places will experience warmer-than-average temperatures over the weekend.

For this reason, the cherry blossoms are expected to bloom smoothly. Kochi is the first city in the country to bloom, with blooming expected around March 18th. This is expected to be followed by Tokyo and Nagoya around the 19th.
From western Japan to eastern Japan, the cherry blossom season seems to be progressing, with some places beginning to bloom later this week.

Cherry blossoms are expected to bloom in many areas of western and eastern Japan in late March, with cherry blossoms expected to be enjoyed in Hiroshima around the 20th and Osaka around the 25th. It's a good idea to make your cherry blossom viewing plans early, as some places reach their peak early.

In April, the cherry blossom front is expected to move towards northern Japan and bloom in Tohoku. Sendai is expected to arrive around the 3rd, and Akita around the 13th.
From late April onwards, the cherry blossom front will advance towards Hokkaido, and in Hakodate, the cherry blossoms are expected to bloom around the 23rd. The flowers will be in full bloom in Wakkanai and Abashiri in mid-May.