HEAVY SNOW IN KOHOKU, SHIGA

Posted on January 26, 2024

At 6:13 a.m. on January 24, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued urgent information on the growing threat of large-scale traffic disruption due to heavy snowfall in the Kohoku area of Shiga Prefecture.

At Yanagikase, Yogo Town, Nagahama City, 37 centimeters of snow fell in the six hours before 6:00 a.m., and this strong snow is expected to continue to fall until late tonight.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging people to avoid entering the area by car.

The “Weather Advisory on Significant Heavy Snowfall” is issued when record-breaking, short-term heavy snowfall causes vehicles to be stranded, and the continued heavy snowfall may cause large-scale traffic disruption.

Specifically, this is the case in areas in Hyogo, Kyoto, and Shiga Prefectures where six-hour snowfall amounts have reached 35 cm, and where strong, warning-grade snow is expected to continue to fall thereafter. (*Only the standard for the Usawano Plateau in Hyogo Prefecture is 40 centimeters.)

The Japan Meteorological Agency will issue this information to prevent the spread of traffic disruption and urge people not to drive into such areas.