A recent analysis indicates that global warming has led to a 7% increase in snowfall in northern Japan, while western regions have experienced a decrease.
In late January, significant snowfall in Japan, particularly along the Sea of Japan, prompted the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, along with the Japan Meteorological Agency, to examine the effects of global warming on snowfall patterns. Their analysis revealed that regions north of Niigata experienced an approximately 7% increase in snowfall attributable to climate change, whereas areas in western Japan noted a 7% decrease in snowfall, likely due to higher temperatures.
The heavy snow that occurred from January 21 to 31, 2026, significantly impacted broad areas from northern to western Japan, attributed to a prolonged influx of cold air. In Sapporo, public transportation was severely disrupted, especially around January 25, while Aomori city recorded over 180 cm of snow, prompting a call for Self-Defense Forces to assist with disaster response. Additionally, Akita's northern city of Takasu observed historically unprecedented snowfall, leading to serious disruptions in daily life and transportation.
The findings were based on an "event attribution" method using computer simulations to analyze the impact of global warming on specific weather events. Researchers compared scenarios of prevailing climate conditions against a hypothetical situation devoid of human-induced warming over an 11-day snow period. The data emphasized the complex relationship between climate change and localized weather patterns, indicating significantly altered precipitation behavior across different regions of Japan.
