Heavy snow hits Tokyo, forcing JMA to issue the city’s first heavy snow warning since 2018

Heavy snow blanketed capital Tokyo on January 6, 2022, forcing the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue the city's first heavy snow warning since 2018.

JMA meteorologists said a low-pressure system off Japan's Pacific coast has brought snow to a wide area in the Kanto region, including capital Tokyo, and Shizuoka Prefecture west of Kanto.

The agency warned drivers to use winter tires or snow chains as there is a potential disruption to traffic due to icy roads and heavy snow.

Residents were urged to be vigilant of snow settling on electrical cables and trees.

Officials at Tokyo's main airport Haneda said 66 departing and 53 arriving domestic flights were already canceled. Rail traffic is also affected, with some commuter trains delayed due to heavy snowfall.¹

As of 16:00 LT on January 6, 6 cm (2.3 inches) of snow had accumulated in central Tokyo, while the city of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture northeast of the capital recorded 5 cm (1.9 inches). In other prefectures neighboring the capital, Yokohama's Naka Ward and Chiba's Chuo Ward saw 3 cm (1.1 inches) of snow accumulate, JMA said.²

By 18:00 LT, Tokyo received 10 cm (3.9 inches), Tsukuba 8 cm (3.1 inches), while the cities of Chiba and Yokohama received 7 cm (2.7 inches).³

Tokyo's 10 cm of snow today made it its heaviest snow since 2018 and the 10^th heaviest January snow since records started in 1876.

In addition, the city's daily high-temperature today was only 2.6 °C (36.7 °F), making it the coldest day in 19 years, according to meteorologist Sayaka Mori.

Low and below-freezing temperatures in the region are expected through Friday morning, January 7.

References:

¹ Rare snow in Tokyo blankets shrines, cancels flights – AFP

² Heavy snow warning issued for central Tokyo – The Mainichi

³ Tokyo has first snow of season – NHK

Featured image credit: traveler @maronkurin1