Weather officials say coastal areas along the Sea of Japan are expected to see the first heavy snow of the season later this week as a midwinter-level cold air mass flows into the Japanese archipelago.

The Meteorological Agency says a winter pressure pattern is expected to gradually strengthen near the archipelago from Thursday onward. Parts of western Japan could experience temperatures about 10 degrees Celsius lower than average.

Officials say heavy snow is expected in wide areas along the Sea of Japan coast from Thursday through Saturday. Snow is also forecast in low-lying areas.

It may snow steadily in the western regions of Kinki, Chugoku and Kyushu as well as some parts of the central region of Tokai. Extremely heavy snow may be in store if more snow clouds develop than expected.

Up to 60 centimeters of snow is forecast to fall in the 24 hours through Thursday evening in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and the central region of Hokuriku. Forty centimeters is expected in Niigata Prefecture and Tokai, 30 centimeters in Kinki and Chugoku and 20 centimeters in northern Kyushu.