Mount Fuji welcomes the first snow! Pictures of people draped in white gauze on the top of the mountain are exposed

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced today that Mount Fuji has received "the first snow". Affected by the approach of the pressure trough, the rainfall turned to snow near Mount Fuji today, and the mountain top at an altitude of 3,776 meters was covered with white gauze. Starting this year, the Meteorological Agency will use a new observation method to understand the snow cover condition earlier than before.

The Meteorological Agency stated that until last year, the first crown snow on 44 mountains across the country had been seen with the naked eye by meteorological observatory personnel. From this year, visual inspection will be abolished and "snow depth analysis" integrated with weather radar, satellite and other data will be used to determine whether there is snow even if clouds cover the top of the mountain or at night.

In the past, Mount Fuji's first peak snowfall was only announced in October. This was because the Kofu Meteorological Observatory responsible for the observation was often blocked by clouds and could not see the top of the mountain. Sometimes there was snow on the back of the mountain and could not be seen. In fact, there was snow but it was not recorded. This morning, Mount Fuji could not be seen in Kofu. If we used the old method, it might not be released, but people at the foot of the mountain have reported seeing Mount Baektu.

The Meteorological Agency reminds that starting from tomorrow, the 31st, the cold will move southward again, and winter air pressure configurations will occur periodically next week. Snowfall will continue in the mountainous areas of Honshu. It calls on the public to change winter tires early and prepare for the snow season.