Monbetsu City, Hokkaido, which independently observes offshore drift ice, announced on the 9th the "first day of drift ice berthing".

The first day of docking this season was one day later than normal and 19 days later than last year.

Monbetsu City has been independently observing offshore drift ice since 2008 after the weather station of the Abashiri Local Meteorological Observatory was abolished.



On the 9th, drift ice that approached from offshore in the morning connected with fast ice that had frozen near the coast, confirming that most of the observed sea surface was covered with ice. The first day of docking has been announced.



The first day of docking in Monbetsu City was one day later than normal and 19 days later than last year.



Even in the image of the camera installed in Monbetsu City by NHK, we were able to confirm that most of the sea around the port was covered with white ice.



People in their 60s who came from Fukuoka prefecture visited the observation room of the tourist facility "Okhotsk Tower" in Monbetsu Port to enjoy the majestic scenery covered with drift ice. I'm looking forward to boarding the drift ice sightseeing boat Garinko," he said.