Heavy snow warning issued for Tokyo

Tokyo, Feb 10 (EFE).- A heavy snow warning was issued for the 23 wards of Tokyo on Friday morning, the first time the country’s meteorological agency has sent such an alert in more than a year.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) urged traffic vigilance due to possible road closures and delays during rush hours, and advised the use of winter tires and chains and for workers to return home earlier if using public transport.

On Friday morning, it began to snow mainly in Tokyo, where temperatures were around 0 degrees Celsius, and other nearby prefectures in central Japan, and the JMA warned that the snowfall could intensify from the afternoon.

Japanese railway company JR canceled several bullet train lines bound for Yamagata, as well as local trains, and asked citizens to make their journeys promptly, as there is the possibility of further delays and cancellations.

Some 57 flights were also canceled Friday morning, a figure that could increase in the coming hours, with more than 6,000 travelers affected, as well as the partial closure of several highways near Tokyo, according to the public broadcaster NHK.

According to the JMA, the low-pressure system will move from the central region of the country to the east from tomorrow, but local authorities have asked Tokyo residents to avoid any “non-essential” outings.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike asked citizens to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary. EFE

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