Snow begins to fall on commuters in Yokohama, Japan, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Tokyo-area U.S. military bases warned their populations to prepare Monday as the first significant snowfall of the year bore down on the region.
At Yokota, the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan, light rain and snow began falling around noon with periods of heavier snowfall after 6 p.m. Up to 5 inches was expected to accumulate by 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The base approved a 10 a.m. Tuesday report time for nonessential personnel; the Child Development Center will open at 9:30 a.m. to accommodate them.
Camp Zama, the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan, also delayed reporting until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Base schools are either on delayed schedules or closed Tuesday, according to an email Monday from Miranda Ferguson, spokeswoman for Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific.
Afternoon snowfall hampers visibility outside Yokota Air Base, Japan, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)
John O. Arnn Elementary, Shirley Lanham Elementary and Zama Middle/High School at Sagamihara will be closed, affecting students from Camp Zama and Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
Buses for Yokota’s schools will operate on a two-hour delay, with classes starting at 10 a.m.
At Yokosuka Naval Base, homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet, school buses will also run on a two-hour delay with the following start times: Yokosuka Middle at 9:35 a.m.; Nile C. Kinnick High at 9:40 a.m.; Ikego Elementary at 9:45 a.m.; and The Sullivans Elementary at 10 a.m.
The arrival of bad weather brought a checklist of familiar residential and workplace duties.
The 374th Civil Engineering Squadron reminded Yokota’s units and residents to keep an area around their homes cleared of snow and ice and to expect surfaces to freeze overnight.
Snowfall accumulates in a neighborhood just outside Yokota Air Base, Japan, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes )
Salt for deicing pavements and driveways was available at the base’s U-Fix-It office, the squadron said in a mass email Monday.
“We are currently forecasting around 5 inches of snow to fall with accumulation amounts between trace and a maximum of 2 inches on paved surfaces before the rain begins, melting the accumulation,” the squadron advised.
Forecasters at Yokosuka warned of possible strong winds accompanying the mix of snow and rain, along with a chance of increased snow accumulation in higher elevations and areas north of the base.
On Monday, Japan Airlines canceled 55 flights to and from Haneda Airport and All Nippon Airways canceled 34 flights, according to the Japan Times newspaper.
