Monbetsu announces `` first day of drift ice '' Drift ice confirmed offshore February 4, 16:06 in Hokkaido

Monbetsu, Hokkaido, on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, announced the first day of drift ice on April 4 as drift ice was confirmed offshore. The first day of drift ice in Monbetsu is nine days later than last year.

Monbetsu City has been conducting observations independently since 2008 following the closure of the Monbetsu Weather Station at the Abashiri Regional Meteorological Observatory.On April 4, the first day of drift ice was announced, as it was confirmed that there was drift ice offshore. did.

The first day of drift ice in Monbetsu is 9 days later than last year and 12 days later than normal.

It was also the fifth slowest record in the last 65 years of observation, including observations at weather stations before the closure.

Around 1:30 pm, NHK's camera installed in Monbetsu City confirmed that white ice blocks were in a strip on the sea.

Mr. Tsutomu Iwamoto, Chief of the International Exchange Division, Monbetsu City, said, "The first day of drift ice was particularly slow, so I'm glad and relieved. But I hope you enjoy it for a long time. "

Drift ice has been detected in Shari and Sarufutsu villages along the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, but not in Abashiri, and the first day of drift ice at the Abashiri Regional Meteorological Observatory has not yet been announced.

The first day of drift ice The fifth slowest in the past

According to Monbetsu, the first day of drift ice was the latest on February 14, 1989.

Next was February 8, 1993.

February 7, 1996.

February 5, 2009.

This was the fifth slowest observation on February 4 in the past.

90 tourists

In Monbetsu, Hokkaido, which was the first day of drift ice, the drift ice sightseeing boat "Garinko" sailed on drift ice for the first time in this season on April 4, and tourists enjoyed magnificent scenery.

The Garinko, carrying about 90 tourists, left Monbetsu Port on the afternoon of the 4th.

After about 7 km, the drift ice spread all over, and the larger one was about 4 meters wide and 30 cm thick.

The Garinko, with a drill at the tip, advanced through the drift ice, and tourists enjoyed the magnificent scenery by taking pictures.

A sister in her twenties, who visited for sightseeing, said, "I came from Tokyo because I wanted to see drift ice. I was able to see it perfectly today. I can see seals and stellers that are not seen in Tokyo I'm glad I did it. "