More snow is expected to fall across large parts of Japan through Monday, with the Sea of Japan coast and the mountain areas the hardest hit, the Meteorological Agency said Friday.
The agency also warned of strong winds, especially in the north.
A rapidly developing low-pressure system, which will bring the coldest air mass to the archipelago so far this winter, is expected to dump more than 1 meter of snow in some areas in 24 hours, more than the total amount of snow that fell in those regions between Tuesday and Thursday, the agency said.
Some parts in the country have already been hit by record-high levels of snow this month.
About 26 cm of snow has already fallen in Aga, Niigata Prefecture, in the 24 hours to 5 p.m. Friday and 22 cm fell in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, in the same period, according to the agency.
Up to 40 cm of snow is expected to fall in the 24 hours to 6 p.m. Saturday in areas along the northeastern coast and Gifu Prefecture, the agency said.
It also forecast 50 cm to 70 cm of snow for the Hokuriku region, 50 cm for Niigata Prefecture and the Sanin region, and 30 cm in the northern part of the Kinki region.
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