NewKerala.com

Blizzard Batters Japan's Hokkaido: Travel Chaos and Warnings Amid Heavy Snow

A powerful blizzard slammed into Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, causing major headaches. The storm brought howling winds and dumped massive amounts of snow, leading to deep accumulations. This severe weather forced airlines and railways to cancel dozens of flights and train services, stranding travelers. Authorities are now warning residents about further dangers like avalanches and potential flooding along the coast.

Key Points: Hokkaido Blizzard Disrupts Travel with Heavy Snow and High Winds

  • Violent winds hit 32.9 meters per second in Abashiri, disrupting daily life
  • Heavy snowfall reached 49 cm in six hours in Engaru Town
  • Over 29 flights and 77 train services canceled due to dangerous conditions
  • Meteorological agency warns of avalanches, power outages, and coastal flood risks
2 min read

Traffic disrupted, warning issued after blizzard batters Japan's Hokkaido

A severe blizzard hits Hokkaido, Japan, causing major flight and train cancellations, power outages, and urgent warnings for avalanches and coastal flooding.

"The JMA urged people in Hokkaido to take extra caution against blizzards, heavy snow and violent wind - Japan Meteorological Agency"

Tokyo, Dec 15

A rapidly developing low-pressure system has brought a blizzard to Hokkaido on Monday, with violent winds and heavy snowfall also affecting parts of northeastern Japan, causing disruptions to transportation and prompting warnings of storm surges and flood risks from high tides.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), gusts of wind recorded over a three-hour period up to 6 a.m. on Monday reached about 32.9 metres per second in the city of Abashiri and 32.7 metres per second in Kushiro, both in Hokkaido.

Snowfall has intensified across Hokkaido. Snowfall in the six hours through 6 a.m. on Monday reached 49 cm in Engaru Town, and 40 cm in Kitami City. As of 6 a.m., snow depth stood at 172 cm in the Hakkoda mountain range in Aomori Prefecture, and 59 cm at Obihiro Airport.

The JMA forecasted stormy conditions to continue, with very strong winds accompanied by snow or rain across Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. Heavy snowfall is expected mainly in Hokkaido, with up to 40 cm forecast in some areas over the 24 hours through Tuesday morning.

Air and rail services have been affected. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines said a total of 29 flights to and from airports in Hokkaido have been canceled on Monday. On Sunday, 160 flights arriving at or departing from New Chitose Airport were canceled.

JR Hokkaido announced the suspension of 77 services, including limited express trains, on Monday, warning that further cancellations may follow depending on weather conditions.

The blizzard also led to power outages for households in certain regions, Xinhua news agency reported.

The JMA urged people in Hokkaido to take extra caution against blizzards, heavy snow and violent wind, as well as disruptions to transportation systems, warning of avalanches and power outages caused by snow. In the city of Nemuro, Hokkaido, elevated tides have raised the risk of coastal flooding due to storm surges.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Nature's fury is the same everywhere. We have our cyclones and floods, they have blizzards. The key is preparedness. Japan is generally very good at disaster management, so I'm sure they'll handle it. Stay safe, Hokkaido!
A
Aman W
Reading about 160+ flights cancelled makes me think of our own fog-related delays in Delhi every winter. Disruption is global. Hope the tourists and students there are safe and have enough supplies.
S
Sarah B
While the focus is on Japan, this is a stark reminder for our Himalayan states. Uttarakhand and Himachal also face heavy snow and avalanches. Are our early warning systems and evacuation plans as robust? Something to ponder.
V
Vikram M
The data is frightening – 32.9 m/s wind speed! That's like a severe cyclonic storm. Power outages in that cold would be brutal. Respect to the utility workers and emergency teams battling the conditions to restore services. Real heroes.
K
Kavya N
My cousin studies in Sapporo. She just messaged saying it's like a whiteout and they've been advised to stay indoors. It's a different level of winter there. Sending warm thoughts from sunny Chennai! ☀️

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50