Japan braces for heavy snow as nation prepares for year-end holidays

Heavy snow is expected through Sunday across wide areas of Japan especially along the Sea of Japan coast, with the weather agency warning the public about possible snowstorms and traffic disruptions during the year-end holiday season.Up to 80 centimeters of snow is forecast to fall in the Hokuriku region in central Japan and 70 cm in Tohoku in the northeast over the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Saturday. Snowfall is expected through Sunday and possibly even longer in the regions, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.Brought about by the strongest cold air mass over Japan so far this winter, snow…READ FULL ARTICLE