Heavy Snowfall Feared in Areas Affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake (Update1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

20:30 JST, January 21, 2024 (updated at 14:20 JST, January 22)

Heavy snowfall is expected from Tuesday to Thursday in wide areas of Japan, particularly on the Sea of Japan side from Kyushu to the Hokuriku regions, as the coldest air of the winter blows over the country.

The Meteorological Agency is alerting people living in the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, as houses and buildings damaged by the quake may collapse under the weight of snow.

According to the agency, the snowfall is expected to reach an alarming level on Wednesday, with even plain areas in danger of being covered. An estimated 60-80 centimeters of snow is expected to fall in the mountains in the Hokuriku region, while 40 to 60 centimeters is expected along the mountains in the Kinki region. The forecast for the plains in Toyama Prefecture is 30 to 50 centimeters, while that for the plains in Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures is 20 to 40 centimeters.

The agency is calling for people to stay alert not only against snowfall accumulation but also against avalanches and traffic disruptions caused by frozen road surfaces.

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