TOKYO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido may be hit by a heavy snowstorm from Thursday to Saturday, with weather officials warning that the storm could disrupt transportation systems in the region.
According to weather officials, a low-pressure system and a cold air front is moving north of Hokkaido and is likely to cause blizzards and strong gusts on the Sea of Japan coast in northern Japan.
Weather officials said that winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour are expected to hit Hokkaido, with gusts of 82 km per hour expected in the Tohoku region and 72 km per hour in the Hokuriku area.
They said, however, as the storm intensifies, the gusts could reach up to 126 km per hour in some areas.
Along with wave surges expected along coastlines in the affected regions, officials said that 40 centimeters of snowfall is expected in Hokkaido, and up to 20 centimeters in the Tohoku region in the 24 hours through Friday morning.
In the 24 hours through Saturday morning, officials said that 50 to 70 centimeters more snow may fall in Hokkaido.
