Japan's Meteorological Agency says heavy snowfall in the country has passed its peak, but officials are warning of avalanches and accidents caused by melting snow as warm weather is forecast.



The agency says that on Tuesday, temperatures are expected to return to or exceed the seasonal average, and that sunny skies will prevail in many areas. It will be 12 degrees Celsius in central Tokyo and the western Japanese city of Fukuoka, and 10 in the cities of Sendai and Osaka.



The weather is expected to become even warmer later in the week, reaching the average for early or mid-April.



The agency is urging people in snow-hit regions to be alert for avalanches and snow falling from roofs.



Accumulated snowfall as of 6 p.m. on Monday was 3.87 meters in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture; 3.27 meters in Ohkura Village, Yamagata Prefecture; and 1.38 meters in Aomori City.



The agency added that up to 15 centimeters of snow may still fall in the Kinki region of western Japan by Tuesday afternoon.