The Hokkaido Prefectural Government headquarters (Mainichi/Naoto Ishikawa)

       SAPPORO -- A blizzard is expected to hit Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Jan. 12, and a local meteorological observatory has issued warnings of traffic disruptions and high waves.

       Hokkaido Railway Co. (JR Hokkaido) suspended a total of 64 trains, including 12 limited express services, on Jan. 11, and will cancel a total of 167 trains, including 35 limited express operations, on Jan. 12.

       According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's Sapporo Regional Headquarters, the amount of snowfall expected for the 24-hour period until 6 p.m. on Jan. 12 is 60 centimeters on the Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean, and Sea of Okhotsk sides of Hokkaido. There are also fears of flooding in low-lying areas on the prefecture's eastern Pacific coast on Jan. 12 due to storm surges.

       Heavy snowfall is expected to continue in Hokkaido on Jan. 13 as a strong winter pressure pattern continues, and the and snowfall in the 24-hour period ending at 6 p.m. that day is expected to reach 30 to 50 cm on the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk sides, and 20 to 40 cm on the Pacific coast.

       (Japanese original by Junji Takayama, Hokkaido News Department)

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