Snowstorm
Snowfall in cold, snowy regions has seen a general downward trend. But infrequent, large-scale, intense snowstorms have started to occur even in ordinarily snow-free regions.
A traffic jam caused by a snowbank-blocked lane
In Japan, there are many cities in regions of heavy snowfall. Even on major roads with multiple lanes in each direction, traffic lanes become occupied by piled snow.
The result is traffic congestion.
Snowbanks hinder vehicle traffic
In regions of heavy snowfall, many local roads in large cities are also blocked with piled snow.
Vehicles traveling toward each other from opposite directions have trouble passing.
An avalanche
The Japanese archipelago extends northeast-southwest. The backbone range that runs down the center divides Japan into the Japan Sea side and the Pacific Coast side.
Many trunk roads extend over passes at the backbone range. Despite the many avalanche countermeasures, avalanches sometimes occur, isolating villages.
Snowstorm-induced poor visibility
Very strong winds cause snow to drift, even when snow isn’t falling. This results in frequent poor visibility.
Many pedestrian slip-and-fall accidents from extremely slippery road surfaces
Cold Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, has many consecutive “winter days” whose max. air temperature is below zero degrees Celsius. After studded tires were banned, extremely slippery winter roads began to appear and pedestrian slip-and-fall accidents increased sharply.
Poor visibility and wave-overtopping during a snowstorm
Coastal highways are prone to overtopping waves and blowing snow-induced poor visibility in snowstorms.