Japanese weather officials say yellow sand from China's deserts has blown across much of Japan from the northern to western regions. The dust was observed in central Tokyo on Thursday.

The Meteorological Agency says visibility in Tokyo was 15 kilometers as of 5 p.m. This is the first time since May 2021 that yellow sand has been observed in central Tokyo.

Visibility was less than 10 kilometers in some places, including the northern city of Sapporo, the eastern city of Kumagaya, the central city of Kanazawa, and the western city of Takamatsu.

The yellow sand is expected to gradually subside, but its effects are likely to continue through Friday in some parts of eastern Japan and other regions, with visibility at less than 10 kilometers.

But the sand is expected to blow again into western Japan on Sunday.

Weather officials say people should continue to take cautionary measures and avoid hanging laundry outside to dry.