Snow depth in Sukayu surpasses 5 m (16.4 feet) for second time since 1979, Japan
Sukayu Onsen, located in the mountains of Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, recorded its heaviest snowfall in 12 years on Thursday, February 12, 2025, with snow depths exceeding 5 m (16.4 feet).
Image credit: Mohjammad Ahsan
Sukayu, in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, measured 5.15 m (16.9 feet) of snow on Thursday, February 20, 2025, marking its heaviest snowfall in 12 years as a cold wave peaked along the Sea of Japan coast.
The area exceeded the 5 m (16.4 feet) mark again at around 15:00 local time (LT) on Friday, February 21, as additional snowfall accumulated on top of the previous day’s snow.
Snow levels fluctuated throughout Friday due to melting and fresh accumulation. The lowest recorded snow depth for the day was 4.92 m (16.1 feet) at 10:00 LT before levels began rising again.
The last time Sukayu recorded more than 5.66 m (18.6 feet) of snow was on February 26, 2013. This marks only the second time the snow depth has exceeded 5 m (16.4 feet) since records began in 1979.
The area has recorded a cumulative snowfall exceeding 14 m (45.9 feet) for the current winter season, indicative of persistent and intense cold-air outbreaks and significant moisture inflow from the Sea of Japan.
Snowfall first exceeded the 4 m (13.1 feet) mark on January 2, with intermittent snowfall continuing into early February. During this week’s cold wave, it reached 49 cm (19.3 inches) on February 18 as accumulation increased.
Heavy snowfall is expected to persist over the three-day weekend, mainly affecting Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan side of Honshu.
By the evening of February 21, expected snowfall amounts are 60 cm (23.6 inches) in Tohoku and Niigata Prefecture, 50 cm (19.7 inches) in Hokkaido, 40 cm (15.7 inches) in Kinki, and 30 cm (11.8 inches) in the Hokuriku and Chugoku regions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has urged residents to exercise caution regarding the impact of heavy snow on traffic, avalanches, falling snow from roofs, power outages, fallen trees, and snow accumulation.
With the winter pressure pattern persisting, intermittent snowfall is expected, and cold air inflow may intensify during the three-day holiday. As of Thursday evening, heavy snowfall warnings may be issued from Niigata Prefecture to Fukui Prefecture from Saturday to Sunday, February 22 – 23.
References:
1 Japan Meteorological Agency Observation – JMA – February 21, 2025
2 Snowfall intensifies locally in Tohoku and Hokuriku regions; snowfall exceeds 5m in Sukayu, Aomori – NHK – February 20, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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