Heavy snow accumulating across northern Japan affected regions like Hokkaido, Aomori, Yamagata, and Niigata, with local totals surpassing 30cm, in part due to a cold airmass moving over warm Sea of Japan waters. This process induced robust atmospheric lifting, intensifying precipitation as over 20-30cm of snow fell in 24 hours. With forecasts indicating further snow due to persistent weather patterns, these areas face additional accumulations, significantly impacting local activities and travel.
As cold air streams across warm waters in the Sea of Japan, it leads to a rise in atmospheric moisture, causing heavy showers. This mechanism is not unique to Japan; similar phenomena occurred across eastern Canada and the northeastern US, resulting in significant snowfall. Snowfall there is expected to accumulate in bands, with Lake Ontario's east likely receiving 30-40cm due to the same atmospheric interactions observed in northern Japan.
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