Heavy sea-effect snow has been affecting parts of Japan since Thursday, January 9, 2025, with more than 1 m (3 feet) of snow already registered in some regions and snowfall expected to persist through Saturday. Certain areas have already received twice the usual snowfall.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported explosive eruptions at Sakurajima volcano between 07:10 and 07:29 LT on Monday, December 23, 2024, with ash clouds rising to approximately 3 000 m (9 850 feet) above the volcano.
A very bright fireball was observed over Hokkaido shortly after 01:00 local time (LT) on Thursday, December 5, 2024 — 16:00 UTC on December 4.
A strong and shallow M6.4 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan’s Noto Peninsula on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Tremors of varying intensities (seismic intensity 1 or higher) were recorded across regions from northeastern to western Japan, including Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata, and Fukui prefectures. The quake was an aftershock of a major M7.6 earthquake on January 1, 2024, in which more than 440 people lost their lives.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.4 hit near the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, at 13:47 UTC on November 26, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). USGS are EMSC are reporting M6.1 at a depth of 10 km.
A strong and shallow earthquake, registered by the USGS and EMSC as M6.2, hit southeast of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan at 12:16 UTC on November 17, 2024. Both agencies are reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). JMA is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 10 km.
Former Super Typhoon “Kong-rey” brought record-breaking rainfall to coastal China after causing significant destruction in Taiwan, where it left 3 people dead and over 500 injured. What’s left of this storm is now moving toward Japan, with western regions already experiencing its effects, expected to last into November 2. Eastern Japan and the Tohoku region are likely to be impacted from November 2 to 3, with risks of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and rising river levels.
Eleven people have been confirmed dead following unprecedented rainfall that hit Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture on Friday and Saturday, September 21 and 22, 2024, resulting in severe flooding and widespread damage across the region.
A strong and shallow earthquake, registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M5.9, struck near Torishima Island, Japan, at 23:14 UTC on September 23, 2024 (08:14 JST on September 24). The agency reported a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The USGS reported M5.6 at a depth of 11.7 km (7.3 miles), while the EMSC reported M5.6 at a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles).
Heavy torrential rains struck the Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan on Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, 2024, leading to severe flooding in the region, and prompting the highest level of flood alert. Wajima City recorded 318.5 mm (12.5 inches) of rainfall between Friday and Saturday, while Suzu recorded 226 mm (8.9 inches) of rain within the same period. One person was killed and more than 10 remain missing, as of 12:00 UTC today.
