Japanese snow storm

No doubt the snow is "hot"
Severe storm warnings in 
Tokyo after heavy snow

The Japanese authorities have issued a severe storm warning for Tokyo after the city was hit by heavy snow.

Residents have been urged to stay indoors in the first warning of this kind for Tokyo in 13 years.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and some train services have been suspended.

Tokyo had its heaviest snowfall in years on Feb. 8, prompting numerous injuries and causing transportation chaos.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first heavy snow warning in 13 years for the capital's 23 wards.

Brought by a powerful low-pressure system, snow is expected to fall through early Feb. 9 in the Kanto region.

According to the JMA, central Tokyo was blanketed with 12 cm of snow as of 4 p.m. The depth was 10 cm in Yokohama, 12 cm in Utsunomiya, 13 cm in Chiba, 15 cm in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecure, and 18 cm in Maebashi.

A heavy snow warning was also issued for Tokyo's western Tama area, Kanagawa Prefecture and western Chiba Prefecture..

According to firefighters, 45 people were injured in snow-related accidents in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures as of noon.

Almost all domestic flights leaving Haneda Airport were called off in the afternoon after hundreds of cancellations earlier in the day.

Trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line were running up to 70 minutes behind schedule as of 11 a.m.

About 30 universities in the Kanto region held entrance examinations Feb. 8. Some delayed the start times due to the snow.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201402080056