Japan's Pacific side is expected to see improving weather conditions on May 4, 2024, as a low-pressure system moves east [1, 2].
These shifting weather patterns create a stark contrast across the archipelago, ranging from early summer warmth in the south to accumulating snow in the north. The volatility affects travel and safety for residents in the Tokai and Hokkaido regions.
Weather reports indicate that many locations on the Pacific side will see daytime temperatures reach or exceed 25°C [2]. Specific forecasts for the region include a daytime high of 26°C in Tokyo and 22°C in Osaka [1]. However, north winds are expected to bring cooler temperatures during the night [2].
In the Tokai region, heavy rain is possible during the morning hours [1, 2]. The system is also expected to bring rain and occasional thunder to northern Japan [1, 2].
Conditions in the north remain colder. Wet snow is forecast for the Okhotsk Sea side of Hokkaido, with some areas expected to see accumulation [2]. There are differing reports regarding other snowy regions; while some sources focus on Hokkaido, other reports indicate that heavy snow may occur in the mountain areas of Kanto-Koshin during the morning [3].
Sapporo is forecast to have a daytime high of 17°C [1]. The overall weather shift is driven by a low-pressure system moving eastward across the country, which clears the path for warmer air on the Pacific coast while pushing colder air over the Okhotsk Sea [4, 5].
"Tomorrow, weather will move toward recovery mainly on the Pacific side, and rain from Kinki to Kanto will last until morning," TBS NEWS DIG said [1].
“Daytime temperatures will exceed 25°C on the Pacific side”
The simultaneous occurrence of 26°C heat in Tokyo and snowfall in Hokkaido highlights the extreme climatic diversity across Japan during the spring transition. The movement of the low-pressure system creates a narrow window of instability, particularly in the Tokai region, before the Pacific coast stabilizes into warmer summer-like conditions.
