Heavy snow lashing Japan's Sea of Japan coast since Tuesday has killed four people in Niigata Prefecture and injured 26 others. The Japan Meteorological Agency warns of continued heavy snowfall, especially in Tohoku and Hokuriku regions, through Saturday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned that a strong winter pressure pattern, in place since Tuesday, will bring heavy snowfall to regions along the Sea of Japan coast, particularly in Tohoku and eastern Japan, continuing through Saturday. In the 24 hours through 6 p.m. Friday, 58 centimeters of snow fell in the Sumon district of Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture; 51 centimeters in Kami, Hyogo Prefecture; and 51 centimeters in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.
As of Friday afternoon, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported four snow-related deaths in Niigata Prefecture. In Uonuma, a man in his 50s died from an acute illness while unloading snow from his house roof, according to the Niigata prefectural government. A man in his 50s in Sado died while clearing snow. In Nagaoka, two men in their 70s perished—one while plowing snow and the other while resting during snow removal work. The deaths were attributed to sudden illnesses during snow removal and other reasons.
Injuries totaled 26 across a wide area from Aomori Prefecture in Tohoku to Kyoto Prefecture in Kansai, with 10 serious and 16 minor. The JMA forecasts the pressure pattern to persist through Sunday, with potential for sudden snowfall surges in Tohoku, Hokuriku, and Tokai regions. Heavy snow is also expected in northern Kyushu. The pattern is likely to weaken on Monday and Tuesday but return by Wednesday.