Journal of Natural Disaster Science

SNOW DAMAGE IN THE WARMER REGIONS OF JAPAN

Chotaro NAKAJIMA
Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto

(Received 11 December, 1981 and in revised form 24 December, 1981)

Abstract

Disasters caused by heavy snowfall and deep snow cover are some of the most serious disasters in Japan. In recent years, snow-disasters have spread to warmer regions, and new kinds of disasters have appeared. In this paper, a historical review of the change in character of snow disasters is done, the importance of damage by snow in the warmer regions of Japan is analysed and the meteorological causes are discussed.

Key words

wet snow, warm southerly wind, cut-off low, traffic trouble, damage to hot houses, snow accretion on electric power lines