The quake-hit Noto Peninsula and other areas facing the Sea of Japan will see heavy snow through Thursday, with the weather agency warning of high levels of accumulation within a short period of time in Fukui and Shiga prefectures.
The Meteorological Agency is asking people to refrain from nonessential and nonurgent outings if their areas are experiencing heavy snow. In the past, cars have become stranded on roads for days after heavy snowfall.
The city of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, saw 39 centimeters of snow through 8 a.m. Wednesday while the city of Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture saw 32 cm.
The weather agency is forecasting snowfall of 90 cm in the Hokuriku region, which includes the Noto Peninsula, for the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Thursday, and 80 cm and 50 cm respectively for the Kinki region, which includes Osaka Prefecture, and the Kanto region centering around Tokyo.
Snow is also forecast for the disaster-hit areas in Hokuriku and localities nearby, prompting authorities to warn of possible road closures and the suspension of public transportation due to icy roads and snow.
Houses damaged by the quake could also collapse under the weight of the snow.
The extreme weather is already affecting train services and highways.
Suspensions and delays have been announced for the Hokuriku and Sanin railway lines operated by JR West.
On the Meishin Expressway toward Osaka, cars have been stuck along a 6.6-kilometer stretch in the town of Sekigahara in Gifu Prefecture due to snow. A similar situation has occurred along a 5.5-km section toward Nagoya. The expressway operator has started distributing water and portable toilet bags to drivers and passengers.
The snowfall is causing traffic accidents, too.
On Wednesday morning, a highway bus and two other vehicles were involved in an accident on the Kan-Etsu Expressway in the town of Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture, causing minor injuries to 13 people. Yuzawa saw snowfall of 53 cm as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.
In Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, a man died after he was hit by a trailer truck in the early hours of Wednesday. The trailer truck is said to have slipped on the icy road and skidded into the opposite lane, hitting a truck driver who was outside his vehicle parked on the roadside.
Police are investigating the incident.
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