Japan warns of avalanches, icy roads ahead of more snow

TOKYO, Feb 24: Japan will face more heavy snow after a two-week whiteout, the country’s weather agency said Monday, warning people to be cautious of avalanches and icy roads. The regions of Japan facing the Sea of Japan experience heavy snowfall every year and are home to many ski resorts, drawing a growing number of tourists from abroad. However, several cities have seen record snowfall this month, causing traffic disruptions and fatalities.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said Monday that more snowfall is expected in Niigata, Ishikawa, and Nagano prefectures, as well as in some western regions, including Hiroshima and Shimane prefectures. The agency also warned people to remain vigilant about avalanches, icy roads, and the freezing of water pipes in those areas.

By 10:00 AM (0100 GMT) on Monday, the northern city of Aomori recorded five meters (16 feet) of snow, Niigata’s Uonuma recorded 3.81 meters, and Tadami in Fukushima prefecture recorded 3.13 meters, according to the JMA.

RSS/ Agence France Press