Japan's Meteorological Agency says a strong cold air mass and a winter pressure pattern brought snow along the Sea of Japan coast of Hokkaido and Japan's main island of Honshu as well as low-lying areas in the Kinki and Tokai regions on Wednesday.



Snow fell heavily in areas along mountains. In the 24 hours through 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 60 centimeters of snow fell in Yuzawa Town in Niigata Prefecture and 55 centimeters in Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture.



As of 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 4.85 meters of snow had accumulated in Sukayu in the Hakkoda mountain range in Aomori Prefecture and 3.54 meters in Tsunan Town in Niigata Prefecture. Snow also piled up more than usual in low-lying areas, with 29 centimeters in Toyama City and 12 centimeters in Hikone City in Shiga Prefecture.



Weather officials forecast that the flow of the cold air mass will gradually weaken in western Japan, but localized snow could intensify on the Sea of Japan side of northern Japan on Thursday.



The winter pressure pattern will linger, bringing snow along the Sea of Japan coasts of Hokkaido and Honshu. Snow could intensify over the weekend.



Meteorological agency officials are urging caution against traffic disruptions, power outages, fallen trees and avalanches.