[Ocean Summary] Strong winter-like atmospheric pressure distribution spreads across the seas near Japan February 8th to 14th, 2026

2026/02/20 16:32

There was a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern near Japan, and the seas near Japan became largely barren.
Below is a summary of the ocean (February 8-14, 2026)



#Pressure distribution and waves
On the 8th, a strong winter-type pressure distribution occurred near Japan.
It broke out in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the south of Japan.
From the 9th to the 10th, the winter-like pressure pattern eased from the west, but on the 9th, a large gradient in the atmospheric pressure continued, and it settled in the central Japan Sea, east of Japan to south of Okinawa, and the East China Sea.
On the 11th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front developed and moved northeastward east of Japan.
There was a large gradient in atmospheric pressure around low pressure systems and fronts, and there were places in the south and east of Japan.
On the 12th, there was a large pressure gradient between the high pressure system on the continent and the low pressure system east of the Kuril Islands, causing waves to rise in the east of Japan.
From the 13th to the 14th, the area around Japan was covered in high pressure, and the waves gradually became calmer.



#Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperatures in the Japanese waters continued to be at normal levels.
The East China Sea remained in slightly high waters, while the waters near the Nansei Islands continued to be at normal levels.
The southern part of Japan is at a normal level, and the sea area off the coast of the Tokai region continues to be slightly lower than normal.
A slightly higher sea area gradually expands in the east of Kanto.
The western part of the coast of Sanriku was below normal, and the eastern part continued to be above normal or significantly above normal, with temperatures up to 4 C above normal.
The temperature off the southeast coast of Hokkaido was higher than normal, up to 3c higher.
The area of sea ice has expanded in the waters near Chishima and the Sea of Okhotsk.

During the three-day weekend, the warmth of spring is at its peak.Be careful of the temperature difference during the week with large temperature changes.

2026/02/20 07:29

Temperatures are expected to rise across the country during the three-day weekend starting tomorrow, the 21st (Saturday), and the weather is expected to become warmer than usual in spring.



Today, the 20th (Friday), the cold air will recede and the temperature will rise in many places compared to the previous day. In many places in western and northern Japan, temperatures will be similar to March. There is little sunlight in the Kanto region and it is likely to be cold, typical of this time of year.



Tomorrow, the 21st (Saturday), warm air will flow in from the south, so temperatures are expected to rise in various places. By Monday the 23rd, the last day of the three-day holiday, temperatures will rise to around 15c in western and eastern Japan, making it warmer than normal. The maximum temperature in central Tokyo on Monday the 23rd is expected to rise to 19c, making it as warm as mid-April.

Temperatures are rising even on the Japan Sea side, where there is a lot of snow, and on the 22nd (Sunday) it will be as warm as spring will be, with Aomori at 16 degrees Celsius (same as late April) and Niigata at 18 degrees Celsius (same as late April). As the snow continues to melt, it is important to be careful of snow melting disasters such as snow falling from roofs and avalanches, especially in areas with heavy snowfall.

Also, while the maximum daytime temperature is rising, mornings are getting colder, and the temperature difference between morning and evening and daytime is increasing in various places. The temperature difference throughout the day is large, especially in inland areas, so please take care to stay in shape by choosing clothes that are easy to adjust.

After the holidays end on the 24th (Tuesday), cold air will flow in, and the cold will intensify, especially in northern Japan. In some places in Hokkaido, the maximum daytime temperature will drop by around 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day.
In addition to the daily temperature difference, you also need to pay attention to the daily temperature difference.

Weather for today, the 20th (Friday): Sunshine will gradually return to western Japan; clouds will dominate the sky in the Kanto region

2026/02/20 06:35

Today, the 20th (Friday), the area around Japan will be covered in high pressure, but clouds are expected to spread over western Japan, the Tokai region, and the Kanto region due to the trough of atmospheric pressure.



There are many sunny places in Hokkaido, including the Sea of Japan side. Meanwhile, parts of southern Hokkaido and northern Tohoku may see showers or snow in the afternoon. Please be aware of changes in the sky when going out.
On the Pacific side, there is a possibility of showers in parts of northern Tohoku, but most other places will be sunny.

It will be a cloud-dominant day in the Kanto region. There is a possibility of showers in the coastal areas at night, so if you are returning late, it is a good idea to have a folding bag.

The sky in western Japan is likely to be cloudy in the morning, but it will gradually clear up in the afternoon. Please be careful as there is a possibility of rain showers in areas such as Shikoku and the Kii Peninsula.

Weather and temperature summary (February 8th to February 14th) Snow in southern Kanto, 5cm of snow observed in central Tokyo, the coldest of the season

2026/02/19 21:45

This is a summary of the weather and temperature from February 8th to February 14th, 2026.

[About this period's weather]
#Characteristics of the atmospheric pressure distribution
On the 8th, the area around Honshu experienced a winter-like atmospheric pressure distribution with very strong cold air in the sky. Two low pressure systems have formed west of Hokkaido and are slowly moving south. On the 9th, a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern continued near Japan. By nightfall, a high pressure system was moving over the East China Sea. On the 10th, the center of high pressure moved eastward south of Japan. The winter-like pressure pattern near Japan has disappeared. In the afternoon, a low pressure system accompanied by a front formed in the East China Sea. I went east. On the 11th, a low pressure system moved northeast over the Sea of Okhotsk. In addition, another low pressure system with a front is moving east-northeast off the southern coast of Honshu. On the 12th, a low pressure system accompanied by a front moved northeast over the sea east of Japan. The center of high pressure was located near central China, and it slowly moved eastward. Near Honshu, a temporary pressure pattern of high in the west and low in the east has formed. On the 13th, the area around Honshu was covered by a mobile anticyclone centered over western and eastern Japan.
and moved eastward. On the 14th, a low pressure system moved eastward east of the Kuril Islands. A front has become evident from South China to the East China Sea to southern Kyushu, and a low pressure system forms above the front in the evening.

#Precipitation
On the 8th, snow became heavier on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and northern Kyushu, and weather information regarding significant heavy snowfall was announced in Fukui, Kyoto, and Tottori. Snow also fell in the Kanto region, with up to 5cm of snow falling in Tokyo. On the 9th, there was a strong winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern near Japan. The snow has become heavier, mainly on the Sea of Japan side of northern and eastern Japan, and the rainfall has become heavier in local areas. On the 10th, the winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern eased, and the weather improved on the Sea of Japan side. On the other hand, the weather in western Japan is on a downward slope as moist air flows in around low-pressure and high-pressure areas. On the 11th, snow fell mainly in the morning in Hokkaido due to a low pressure system. There were also places along the mountains in the Hokuriku, Tokai, and Koshin regions where the snow became heavier in the morning. On the 12th, the snow intensified in northern Japan, causing blizzards in some places. In areas near Hokuriku, it will gradually rain through the night as the sheer line moves southward. On the 13th, snow and rain occurred mainly in northern Japan. Heavy snow fell in some areas of Hokkaido, with 15 cm of snow falling over three hours in Koganeyu, Hokkaido. On the 14th, snow fell in some parts of Hokkaido until the morning due to the effects of a low pressure system. Due to the influence of the front and low pressure, rain spread across western Japan from the afternoon.

#Temperature
On the 8th, severe cold weather continued across the country, with the coldest weather this winter in many places. It was snowing in Tokyo, and it was extremely cold, reaching a temperature of 2.0 degrees Celsius. Both the number of winter days and midwinter days are new records this season. On the 9th, it became increasingly cold in the morning in western and eastern Japan. During the day, the temperature was below normal in many places, but in many places the temperature was higher than the previous day. On the 10th, the cold air in the sky receded, and the cold weather eased across the country. In many places in northern Japan, temperatures were above normal. The temperature in central Tokyo was 10.9c. The temperature was in double digits for the first time in four days since the 6th. On the 11th, the morning chill in western Japan was weak, but the rise in temperature was slow due to rain and little sunlight. On the 12th, many places in northern Japan saw temperatures drop from the previous day due to the effects of cold air, and in Sapporo, a midwinter day was observed at -0.3c. On the 13th, temperatures were on the rise in many areas. There were many places where it was warmer than normal, such as Tokyo at 12.6 degrees Celsius. On the 14th, warm air flowed into the sky and many areas received sunshine, causing temperatures to rise in many places. The temperature in central Tokyo was 15.1c. It was as warm as late March.



#Summary of the weather for this period (February 8th to February 14th)
The average temperature was influenced by warm air from the south towards the latter half of the period, and many locations in northern Japan were above normal. On the other hand, there were many points where temperatures were slightly below normal from western Japan to the Pacific side of eastern Japan. It snowed in the Kanto region, and the 8th was the coldest day of the season.
Precipitation was at or slightly above normal on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and the Sea of Japan side of western Japan. In addition, rain and snow fell from the southern Kanto region to the Pacific side of the Kinki region due to the influence of low pressure systems and fronts, and there were places where temperatures were above normal. On the other hand, there continued to be no precipitation in some places along the Pacific coast from northern Japan to northern Kanto.
Sunshine hours were likely to be covered by high pressure mainly in the latter half of the period, and the area around Japan was broadly at or above normal. It was particularly common on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan, with Sapporo receiving about 1.5 times more sunshine than normal. The Kanto region had little sunlight, which was slightly less than normal.

1-month forecast: Temperatures will rise nationwide; be careful of snow melting disasters

2026/02/19 19:16

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced the one-month forecast for February 21st to March 20th on Thursday, the 19th.



Regarding the monthly average sea level pressure, isobars are widely spaced near Japan, high pressure and low pressure pass alternately, and the weather nationwide will change every few days. Additionally, a low pressure system is predicted near the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Pacific side of northern Japan will experience periods of low pressure and humid air.
The temperature at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters is predicted to be higher than normal from central China to eastern Japan, and the entire country is expected to be covered in warm air, mainly during the first half of the period.



The weather is likely to be covered with warm air, and temperatures are expected to be high across the country over the next month, especially in the first half of the period until around March 6th.

In snowy regions, rising temperatures can cause snow to melt more rapidly. Please be careful of avalanches, snow falling from roofs, and deteriorating road conditions.
Also, as the temperature rises, cedar pollen will be more likely to scatter.
If you are sensitive to pollen, please take precautions as soon as possible.



Snowfall on the Sea of Japan side of northern and eastern Japan over the next month will be at or below normal.
The Pacific side of northern Japan is affected by low pressure and humid air at times, so precipitation over the next month will be at or above normal.
Since mid-November last year on the Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan, and since early January this year on the Pacific side of Tohoku, conditions have remained low, making it less susceptible to the effects of low-pressure systems. In these areas, precipitation over the next month is expected to be about normal, but it may not be enough to resolve the low rainfall that has been occurring thus far.

Water shortages continue, so be sure to conserve water.
In addition, forest fires tend to occur more easily from winter to spring due to dry air and weather that tends to blow strong winds. Please be careful when handling fire.

The winter-like air pressure distribution will gradually loosen, and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will be full of spring-like warmth.

2026/02/19 09:09

There is a low pressure system with a front over the sea east of Japan, and it is moving north-northeast.
On the other hand, there is a high pressure system on the continent that spreads toward western Japan, and the area around Japan has a winter-like atmospheric pressure distribution centered on northern Japan.




Currently, snow is falling in northern Japan and Hokuriku, mainly on the Sea of Japan side, but it is sunny in many places from the Pacific side of eastern Japan to the Kyushu and Okinawa regions.



Today, high pressure will gradually spread from the west, and the winter-like pressure distribution will loosen.



Western and eastern Japan is expected to have many sunny days.
Although the number of places where it will snow in northern Japan and Hokuriku will gradually decrease, please be aware that it is expected to snow in the morning and there will be some places where it will snow.
The daytime temperature is lower than yesterday, and in some places in Kyushu it is higher than normal, but in many places nationwide it will be at or below normal.



Tomorrow, the winter-like pressure system will loosen and high pressure will gradually spread, but a weak low pressure will advance near the southern coast of Honshu.



Moist air will enter western and eastern Japan, making clouds more likely to spread, but no major collapse is expected.

Even in northern Japan, the snow will stop, and it will be sunny in many places. After that, the high pressure will gradually expand into the day after tomorrow, and it will be sunny in many places.
Also, as warm air enters from the south, the temperature will rise tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, the weather will be normal to late March, and the day after tomorrow it will be even warmer, with the weather expected to be from March to April.

"Haruichiban" in the Hokuriku region, first announcement of the season

2026/02/18 17:04

Today, February 18th (Wednesday), ``Spring Ichiban'' blew in the Hokuriku region. This season will be the first spring announcement in the country.
This year's first observation of spring in the Hokuriku region was 15 days later than last year's February 3rd.

Currently, a low pressure system is located in the northern part of the Sea of Japan, and is developing and moving east-northeast. As a result, rather strong southerly winds were blowing towards the low pressure system in the Hokuriku region. The temperature is also about 3 to 4 degrees higher than the previous day, the 17th.
Today, in Kanazawa, a maximum wind speed of 10.1 m/s was observed at 11:00.



"Haru Ichiban" refers to the warm, strong wind from the south that blows for the first time during the transition period from winter to spring. The Japan Meteorological Agency describes it as a warm (slightly) strong wind from the south that blows for the first time over a wide area (about the size of a local forecast area) between the first day of spring and the vernal equinox.



The developing low pressure system is expected to move towards Hokkaido into the evening, and the Hokuriku region will then see winds shift to the northwest and temperatures will drop.
The snow is expected to gradually increase into the evening.
Also, strong cold air flows into the sky, making the atmosphere extremely unstable. Cumulonimbus clouds will develop locally. In the Hokuriku region, watch out for thunderstorms, tornadoes, severe gusts, and hail from late tonight.

Weekly weather: Spring warmth throughout the country during the three-day weekend; weather goes downhill during the second half of the holiday

2026/02/18 07:32

From now on, around the 21st to 23rd, which will be a three-day holiday, the area around Honshu will experience spring warmth.



Tomorrow, the 19th (Thursday), there will be a temporary winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern around Honshu. Snow will fall in the morning on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan and Hokuriku, and there will be strong winds and snow in some places. However, the area of snow will become narrower around noon, and the weather will start to improve.

From the 20th onward, warm air will enter the Honshu region from the south, and by the time the 21st (Saturday) marks the start of the three-day holiday, some places will experience spring warmth. Temperatures in northern and eastern Japan are expected to be well above normal, and even in western Japan, there are some places like Fukuoka and Kagoshima where temperatures are expected to approach 20 C.
In areas with heavy snowfall, rising temperatures can cause snow to melt more rapidly. Please be careful of avalanches and deterioration of road conditions due to melting snow.

In the latter half of the three-day weekend, the area around Honshu is expected to be affected by fronts and low pressure. The weather will turn downward from the west, and there is a chance of rain around the 23rd (Monday), which is a public holiday, mainly on the Sea of Japan side. Due to the effects of the low pressure, the spacing between the isobar lines is narrow, and the wind is likely to be strong, resulting in torrential rain in some places. During the second half of the three-day weekend, it is necessary to pay attention to the trends of low pressure systems and fronts.

Western Japan and the Pacific side of eastern Japan will continue to have many sunny days, and the drought trend will continue. Please try to conserve water as much as possible. Additionally, the dry air will continue to make fires more likely, so please be careful when handling fire.
It is expected that the amount of cedar pollen scattered will increase as the temperature rises. When going out during the three-day holiday, it is better to take precautions such as wearing a mask wherever you go.

Tomorrow, the 18th (Wednesday), a low pressure system will pass through northern Japan. Wind and snow will become stronger from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to Hokuriku.

2026/02/17 21:05

Tomorrow, the 18th (Wednesday), a low pressure system accompanied by a front will pass through the Sea of Japan. As a result, there is a risk of rough weather from the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan to the Hokuriku region.



Tomorrow, a low pressure system accompanied by a front will move near Hokkaido, and the weather from northern Japan to Hokuriku will change to snow and rain in the afternoon. Warm, humid air will flow towards the front, causing rain and snow clouds to develop, and there will likely be some localized thunderstorms. Please be aware of changes in the sky as strong wind gusts such as tornadoes may occur.



As the front moves southward, strong cold air is expected to temporarily flow into the Honshu region. As a result, there is a risk that the snow will become heavier and snowfall will increase rapidly, mainly along the mountains from northern Japan to Hokuriku, into the night of tomorrow, the 18th. The area of snow will also spread to the northern Kinki region and along the mountains in the San'in region.
In addition, there is a risk of strong winds and blizzards, especially in coastal areas. Please be aware of worsening visibility due to snowstorms and rapid accumulation of snow, and be careful of high waves in coastal areas.



By the morning of the 19th (Thursday), the day after the date changes, the snow is expected to gradually narrow down and stop in many places. However, after the low pressure system passes, the winter cold will return temporarily. The temperature tends to fluctuate significantly, so please try not to get sick.

Western Japan has the lowest rainfall ever recorded as widespread areas continue to be dry; watch out for large-scale forest fires

2026/02/17 16:39

The Pacific side of northern and eastern Japan and western Japan are experiencing record low rainfall.
Since mid-November last year on the Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan, and since early January this year on the Pacific side of northern Japan, conditions have remained low, making it less susceptible to the effects of low-pressure systems.

On the Sea of Japan side of western Japan and the Pacific side of western Japan, the average precipitation in January of this year was 41% and 9%, respectively, the lowest rainfall for January since statistics began in 1946.

The Pacific side of eastern Japan and western Japan are expected to continue experiencing low precipitation for about a month. In addition, although rainfall on the Pacific side of northern Japan is expected to be near normal for the next month or so, it is unlikely that the current low rainfall will be resolved.

Please be careful about managing crops and water.
In 2020, with record low rainfall, many large-scale forest fires occurred nationwide from winter to spring. From January to May, the weather is particularly dry and windy, making forest fires more likely. Please be careful when handling fire.
Also, the water storage rate of dams is decreasing in various places, leading to water shortages, so be sure to conserve water.



Precipitation amount for the past 90 days (November 19, 2025 to February 16, 2026).
Many locations in the Kanto, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions are below 30% of normal levels. In particular, rainfall is extremely low at 11% in Maebashi and 12% in Kochi.



Precipitation amount for the past 45 days (January 3 to February 16, 2026).
In many places on the Pacific side of northern and western Japan, the average level is below 30%. Especially in Sendai, the rainfall is 8%, which is extremely low compared to the average year.