The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a heavy snow alert for Fukui Prefecture in central Japan. It says snow could continue to fall along the Sea of Japan coast through Sunday.
Snowfall reached 37 centimeters in the city of Ono in Fukui Prefecture in the six hours through Saturday noon.
Some areas are already seeing far more snow than yearly averages. In the city of Tokamachi in Niigata Prefecture, 217 centimeters had accumulated as of Saturday afternoon.
Weather officials partly attribute the snowfall to what’s known as the Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone.
Officials say up to 80 centimeters could fall in Niigata Prefecture, and 70 centimeters in the Hokuriku region and Nagano and Gifu prefectures in the 24-hour period through Sunday night.
They say traffic disruptions are possible, and that people should stay alert for power outages, avalanches and snow falling from rooftops. Drivers are advised to refrain from making nonessential journeys. Some roads have already been closed as a precaution.