Twin low pressure systems rapidly intensifying near northern Japan have driven a surge of Arctic air down into the region. At the same time rich Pacific moisture is being funneled in from the east. The combination has brought tremendously heavy snow to the region with records being smashed across eastern Hokkaido Island.
N. Japan has been receiving record heavy snowfall. Obihiro had 120 cm in 12 hrs, setting an all-time record. Authorities are warning hazardous amounts of snow will continue Tues.
Snow is so heavy this winter that Aomori City has allocated its largest-ever budget for snow removal pic.twitter.com/40ftGf0Akg
— Sayaka Mori (@sayakasofiamori) February 4, 2025
It’s happening: Record snowfall of 120 cm in 12 hours in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan! 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/IjbFvDTCp7
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) February 4, 2025
Snowfall fell heaviest overnight on Monday. The city of Obihiro, population 163,000, reported 120 cm (47 inches) in just 12 hours, far exceeding the old national record. The nearby cities of Memuro, Urahoro, and Shiranuka also saw all-time records fall. Drifting snow has buried cars, closed many roads, and disrupted rail services. Airports across Hokkaido have been forced to cancel dozens of flights. Additional heavy snows will affect much of Japan away from the coastal areas with up to 200 cm (79 inches) expected to blitz the central Honshu ranges through the end of the week.
Přes noc napadlo ve městě Obihiro na severním ostrově Hokkaidó trochu sněhu.🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/KlsoIZssH3
— KAFKAvTOKIU (@TomasVilimec) February 4, 2025
Snows of this magnitude aren’t unheard of in Japan. The record for deepest snow depth ever measured in the Northern Hemisphere was 11.8 m (38.8 feet) on Mt. Ibuki in February of 1927. However, the winter of 2024-25 so far had been unusually mild and lacking snow. In fact, the annual Sapporo Snow Festival scheduled to start on Tuesday had been facing cancellation until, ironically, the current snowstorm saved it.