Weather

Weather observatories are shifting toward providing snow forecasts for shorter time frames, hoping to better accommodate sudden weather changes and prevent disasters and traffic disruptions. The observatories have traditionally forecasted snow for the next 24 hours, but many have shifted to 12...

100 YEARS AGO Friday, Dec. 27 1918 Snow snarls Tokyo on Christmas night THE JAPAN TIMES Tokyo and surrounding neighborhoods were visited by another snowfall on Christmas evening. The snow set in at about 5:30 p.m. and continued throughout the night. The snowfall was about 5 inches deep,...

Transport authorities are looking at a plan to require the use of snow chains on vehicles, even those equipped with winter tires, during times of heavy snowfall on designated sections of roads and highways. The transport ministry and the National Police Agency aim to implement the new regulation ...

A total of 47 Japanese have been confirmed safe in the historic city of Petra in Jordan after flash floods hit sightseeing spots in the area on Friday, Japanese officials there said. The 47 consist of 45 tourists and two tour guides, none of whom were injured, they said, adding that the Japanese ...

Medical associations in Japan urged Olympic organizers Wednesday to start the 2020 Tokyo marathon as early as 5:30 a.m., saying failure to do so could "lead to deaths" from heatstroke. The warning is the latest in a chorus of concern about how extreme heat could affect several sporting events at ...

Even cherry trees aren't sure what to make of this year's run of unusual weather. Cherry blossoms, which usually bloom in the spring, have recently been flowering across the nation, likely due to typhoons that brought in warm air and salty seawater, according to Weathernews Inc. and other expe...

Temperatures rose steeply across Japan, mainly along the Sea of Japan coast, on Saturday, marking 36 C in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture, the highest on record at any location in the country in October. The previous high for October was 35.1 degrees recorded in Itoigawa, also in Niigata, on Oct. 9, 2...

A powerful typhoon is heading toward Okinawa Prefecture and may bring heavy rain to a wide area of Japan over the long weekend, the Meteorological Agency said Thursday. The weather agency warned of strong winds, lightning strikes and heavy downpours. It will arrive about a week after Typhoon T...

Two people were killed and more than 160 were injured by powerful Typhoon Trami, which battered Japan over the weekend and brought travel chaos to morning commuters in the capital. A noodle and curry shop was toppled in Tokyo's Suginami Ward on Monday after Typhoon Trami hit the metropolitan are...

On this liveblog, The Japan Times newsroom will be updating the status of powerful Typhoon Trami as it brings high winds and heavy rain to the Japanese archipelago.