Heavy snow to hit east Japan on Feb. 10-11, central Tokyo may see 10 cm: JMA

TOKYO -- Heavy snow is set to strike east Japan's Kanto-Koshin region including the capital and Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan on Feb. 10 and 11 as a low-pressure system develops and moves eastward, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced on Feb. 9.

If the temperature is lower than expected, there is a risk of heavy snowfall to a warning level. Tokyo's central 23 wards are also forecast to see 5 to 10 centimeters of snow.

The maximum snowfall that is projected in the 24 hours up to 6 a.m. on Feb. 11 stands at 20 to 40 cm in the Koshin region, 10 to 20 cm in the northern Kanto region, 5 to 10 cm in the plains of the southern Kanto region, and 5 to 20 cm in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The JMA is calling for people to be on their guard against icy roads and traffic disruptions caused by snowfall, as well as the collapse of greenhouses and carports. Transportation agencies such as East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) are also asking people to check the latest service status.

(Japanese original by Yoshitake Matsuura, Tokyo City News Department)