Photo/Illutration Vehicles are stuck in heavy snow on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture in January. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecast a powerful blizzard for the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido through Feb. 17 and heavy snowfall from northern to southern Japan.

The agency predicted the blizzard in Hokkaido on Feb. 16 would be a “once every few years” event and warned residents to refrain from going outdoors.

The snowstorm could cause poor visibility and storm surges in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region until Feb. 17, it added.

Heavy snow is expected on the Sea of Japan side from Hokkaido to the Kyushu region between Feb. 16 and 18. Even the main island of Shikoku might see snowfall along its mountains.

Over the 24-hour period until noon on Feb. 17, the agency has forecast up to 40 to 60 centimeters of snow in mountainous areas of the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions; 30 to 50 cm in Hokkaido; and 20 to 40 cm in the Kanto-Koshin, Tokai, Kinki and Chugoku regions.

The snow is expected to increase further in some areas after that period.

Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, which were jolted by a magnitude-7.3 earthquake on the night of Feb. 13, could see snowfall on Feb. 16 or later, followed by mostly cloudy days or sunny days.

The agency warned people in these areas to be careful of continuing strong winds if they clean up outside.

According to the agency, a developing low-pressure system moved northward along the Pacific coast, bringing rain to various locations of the country on Feb. 15. After it passed through Japan, a strong winter pressure pattern emerged and is expected to remain until around Feb. 18.

In January, 23 people died in nine prefectures during heavy snow. Similarly frigid temperatures are expected to flow over a wide area of Japan.

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