{
  "id": 16874187,
  "title": "First snow falls across Hokkaido as Japan weather office urges winter preparations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/first-snow-falls-across-hokkaido-as-japan-weather-office-urges-winter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T08:43:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261028/p2a/00m/0na/022000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 28, Sapporo, Japan, experienced its first snowfall of the season, falling around the typical date for the year, five days later than last year. The first snow was also reported in Hakodate, Muroran, Abashiri, Obihiro, and Kushiro, occurring between two and 10 days earlier than average. The Japan Meteorological Agency's Sapporo Regional Headquarters explained that a strong cold air mass, typically seen between late November and early December, moved over Hokkaido, causing winter atmospheric pressure patterns and prompting snowfall in various regions. By 11 a.m. on October 28, snow depths reached 15 centimeters in Kamikawa, an inland town, while Wakkanai at Hokkaido's northern tip and Horokanai in the interior recorded 8 centimeters. Odori Park in central Sapporo saw tourists taking photos amidst snow and strong winds, with a couple in their 60s from Kawanishi, Hyogo Prefecture, noting the colder-than-expected weather due to strong gusts and quickly heading to Sapporo Station. Across Hokkaido, temperatures dropped, with lows of -2.6°C in Makkari, -2.4°C in Date, and -2.2°C in Engaru, while Sapporo experienced lows of 0.8°C in Teine Ward and 1.9°C in Chuo Ward. Snowfall in Sapporo is expected to continue intermittently for about a week. An observatory official urged residents to prepare early for winter.",
  "summary": "SAPPORO -- The city of Sapporo saw its first snowfall of the season on Oct. 28, around the average date for the season and five days later than last y",
  "key_points": [
    "First snowfall in Hokkaido on October 28",
    "Snow reported in Sapporo, Hakodate, Muroran",
    "Japan Meteorological Agency warns of winter preparations"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The early arrival of a strong cold air mass forces Hokkaido residents to accelerate their seasonal preparations as winter atmospheric pressure patterns settle over the island earlier than average.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}