The weather on the 18th will be heavy snow mainly on the Sea of Japan side, and the amount of snow may be the highest this season in Hokuriku, Gifu prefecture, northern Kinki, etc.
The cause of this heavy snow is the low pressure system.
Moreover, it is characterized by "slow movement" with strong cold air in the sky.
Snow clouds are concentrated and flow in, and there is a risk that snow will increase rapidly even on flat ground in a short time.
Here's what you need to know about what to watch out for and what to do if your car gets stuck or slips.
"Standing low pressure" + strong chills
Looking at the weather map near the ground, the low pressure system is in or near the Sea of Japan on the morning and night of the 16th, and on the night of the 17th, and its position is almost unchanged.
And this low pressure is accompanied by strong cold air in the sky.
The temperature near 5500 meters above the ground is extremely low at minus 39 degrees Celsius, and the temperature near the ground near western Japan is expected to be the lowest in this season when heavy snowfall occurs repeatedly.
It is expected that the snow clouds associated with this cold air will repeatedly flow in due to the north and west winds caused by the low pressure system.
In Hokuriku, Kinki, Gifu Prefecture, and the San'in region, where wind tends to gather, there is a risk that snow will increase locally in a short time, not only along the mountains but also on flat ground.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution, saying that the cold weather will be severe and the snow will not melt easily and there is a risk of heavy snowfall.
Danger of getting stuck “Avoid using unnecessary and unurgent cars”
Heavy snowfall that increases the amount of snow in a short period of time increases the risk of car slip accidents and stalling.
If even one car cannot drive, it may lead to a long-term stalling.
▽ In January last year, snowfall of 30 cm or more was observed in Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures in 6 hours, and snow increased in a short period of time, mainly in Hokuriku, and about 1600 vehicles were stranded on the Hokuriku Expressway.
▽ In January 2017, the developed snow clouds continued to fall mainly in the San'in region, so the snowfall increased by 95 cm in one day in Daisen, Tottori Prefecture, and the Tottori Expressway and national roads got stuck (* these past). The case is different from this time in the meteorological mechanism).
This time, the outlook may suddenly deteriorate due to the influence of low pressure.
Please refrain from using unnecessary and unurgent cars in areas where heavy snow is expected.
If you have to go out by car
If you have to use a car, take the following measures.
□ Install winter tires and chains
□ Slow down
□ Avoid sudden starts, sudden braking, and sudden steering
□ Keep enough distance between vehicles
□ Act with plenty of time
□ Winter clothes, shovels, water, food, simple Put emergency supplies such as toilets and non-slip sand in the car
Slip accident Cases where stalling is likely to occur
The following cases are prone to slip accidents and stalling.
□ Poor visibility due to snowstorm □ Suddenly
intensifying snow
□ Cold nights and dawn
□ Snowdrifts on the side of the road □ Slopes
with even a small amount of snow When the
temperature drops, the road surface turns black and the water on the surface freezes Be careful because it will be called "black ice burn" and the risk of slip accident will increase.
If you get stuck ...
What should I do if I get stuck?
We have summarized five actions that we would like you to work on.
1. Check information such as road managers
First, check if the highway company that manages the road, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the local government, etc. have provided information.
If you are stuck or if the risk of getting stuck is increasing due to traffic closure, you may be posting information on our website or SNS.
On the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website "Tell me! Snow Navi", you can check the Twitter accounts of national highway offices all over the country and the images of cameras installed on the road, which is useful for collecting information (https: // www. hrr.mlit.go.jp/hokugi/yukinavi/index.html).
In addition to the status of snow removal, the accounts of national highway offices and local governments may also provide information on the distribution status of supplies.
● If you do not have the information and your car is stuck
▽ Please call "Road Emergency Dial", # 9910 of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
If the situation is suddenly worsening, such as an accident in front of you, please contact the police.
▽ There is also JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) road service, # 8139.
2. Regularly remove snow around the muffler
Please remove snow regularly around the muffler.
If the exhaust port of the muffler is covered with snow, there is a risk that the exhaust gas will flow back into the vehicle and cause "carbon monoxide poisoning".
Carbon monoxide is toxic, and if inhaled, it will become oxygen-deficient and in the worst case, it will die, but it is colorless and has no odor, so it is difficult to notice and dangerous.
In March 2013, four family members died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a car that was buried in snow and stuck in Nakashibetsu-cho, Hokkaido.
In the JAF experiment, even if the driver's seat window is about 5 cm open unless snow is removed around the muffler, if the wind stops, the carbon monoxide concentration in the car will be "a level that will lead to death in a few hours" in just about 20 minutes. It has risen to.
On the other hand, even if the top of the bonnet was covered with snow, the carbon monoxide concentration in the car hardly increased if the snow around the muffler was removed.
3. Turn off the engine if buried in the snow
If your car is completely covered in snow, stop the engine to prevent the influx of carbon monoxide.
Snow has a heat insulating effect.
Because it shuts off the cold outside air, the temperature inside does not drop so much like a "kamakura".
Occasionally open the leeward window about a centimeter to ventilate and wait for help.
4. Exercises to move your legs and hydration
Move your legs regularly and rehydrate frequently.
If you stay in the same position for a long time in a narrow seat, blood flow will deteriorate and blood clots will form, increasing the risk of "economy class syndrome".
Please move your body as follows.
□ Close and open your toes □ Stand your toes
up and down □ Pull your
toes up
□ Turn your ankles
□
Gently squeeze your calves
□ Stretch your back and twist your upper body
5. Frequently check if the leeward door opens
Check regularly to see if the "leeward door" opens so you can escape at any time.
The windward side is covered with snow and will not open immediately.
Also, if you open the door on the windward side, snow and wind will enter and the temperature inside the car will drop.
Japan Meteorological Agency HP "Future Snow" Check the amount of snowfall and the outlook for snow
You can also check where the snow is getting stronger and where it is likely to get stronger from the website of the Japan Meteorological Agency.
In "Future Snow", the amount of snow that fell in 3 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, etc. and the current depth of snow cover are analyzed every 5 km square and displayed in different colors on the map based on radar.
You can check the outlook for future snow up to 6 hours ahead (https://www.jma.go.jp/bosai/snow/).
In particular, you need to pay attention to the amount of snowfall, and the closer the amount of snowfall in "3 hours" or "6 hours" is to orange, red, or purple, the more dangerous it is.
If it is expected that 20 cm to 25 cm of snow will fall in 3 hours in Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku region, etc., and 30 cm to 40 cm of snow will fall in the next 6 hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency may have a large-scale stalling. We will announce "Meteorological Information on Significant Heavy Snow" as it is increasing.
Also pay attention to this information.
Check the forecast specifically and consider changing the route as well as changing the schedule itself depending on the situation.