The Meteorological Agency has issued a warning for heavy snow in the capital on Thursday — the first such warning in four years — as low pressure and a drop in temperatures brought snowfall to large areas of the country's Pacific coast.
As of Thursday evening, central Tokyo had recorded 6 centimeters of snow, Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture had logged 5 cm and both Chiba and Yokohama had 3 cm, according to the agency. The snowfall was the first of the season in these areas, and the first for Tokyo in two years.
The weather agency also warned of more snow later Thursday for the Kanto and Tokai regions, urging people to be prepared for possible traffic disruption and icy roads.
In the 24 hours until noon Friday, up to 10 cm of snow is expected in mountainous areas within the Kanto region.
Temperatures in the capital and Yokohama had dipped below zero as of Thursday afternoon, and weather is expected to remain cold Friday.
Snow accumulated in central Tokyo for the first time since March 2020. The agency last issued a warning of heavy snowfall in the 23 wards in January 2018.
The agency also called attention to heavy snow in Tokyo's neighboring prefectures and areas on the Pacific coast, which usually observe less snow than the Sea of Japan side.
About 100 domestic flights departing or arriving at Haneda or Narita airports were canceled by 4 p.m., affecting some 9,000 passengers, according to Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co.
East Japan Railway Co. said the snowfall also caused some trains on the Tokaido Line and others to be delayed.
