• Okinawa residents capture rare waterspout on camera

    During the afternoon hours of May 15, 2017, residents of Okinawa, Japan were surprised to see a funnel cloud looming just off the coast. The waterspout never touched ground and there are no reports of damage or injuries. The phenomenon was associated with a…

  • Severe winter storm hits Japan, intense sea-effect snow

    A major winter storm is affecting the Japanese archipelago Japan this week. The storm is producing typhoon-force winds and prolonged, intense sea-effect snow. Extreme amounts of snow have fallen in parts of Japan and claimed lives of at least 2 people. More than 40…

  • Rare November snow in Tokyo, the first since 1962

    Temperatures in central Tokyo have fallen to near zero °C recently, rare for this time of year, and the city today saw its first November snow in 54 years. According to the JMA, this is the first time the snow had fallen in central Tokyo since 1962 and the first…

  • Extraordinary high pressure pushing a cold surge to Northeast Asia

    Intense cold has gripped parts of Northeast Asia, causing severe temperature drops and gusty winds. Near record-breaking high sea level pressure was reported in northern Mongolia on November 21, 2016. Siberia, bordering with Mongolia, is the heart of the Northeast…