Calls for vigilance as snow blankets central Japan's Hokuriku region

TOYAMA -- Central Japan's Hokuriku region, including Toyama Prefecture, has again been blanketed in heavy snow due to the stalling of a low-pressure system over the Sea of Japan.

Snow that fell over the central part of the city of Toyama at the start of the year has melted, but the area was again covered in snow on the morning of Feb. 17. Heavy snow warranting a warning could continue to fall until the morning of Feb. 18 in the area's mountainous regions, and the local weather observatory and others are calling for vigilance.

According to the Toyama Local Meteorological Office, the snow was 102 centimeters deep as of 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 17 in the mountainous part of Toyama's Inotani district, which lies on the border with neighboring Gifu Prefecture. Up to 60 cm of snow in mountainous areas is expected over the 24-hour period ending at 6:00 a.m. on Feb. 18, while up to 40 cm is forecast on flatlands.

(Japanese original by Shunsuke Takara, Toyama Bureau)