Japan on Tuesday was bracing for a severe winter storm that could bring heavy snowfall and strong winds across the country amid a once-in-a-decade cold snap.

Low-lying areas including central Tokyo — which rarely sees snowfall — could also face impacts as a strong winter pressure pattern develops over Japan, leading to unstable atmospheric conditions through Thursday. Officials urged those in affected areas to avoid unnecessary outings.

The Meteorological Agency has said temperatures are expected to drop significantly to levels seen only once in 10 years, with authorities warning of the threat of frozen water pipes and power outages.

In anticipation of a severe storm, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceled more than 120 flights to and from airports facing the Sea of Japan on Tuesday.

At JR Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture, a 43-year-old company employee who was on a business trip from neighboring Iwate, said, “I will be careful of unexpected road closures and act quickly.”

In the southwestern city of Kagoshima, it rained in the morning but changed to snow later in the day. A 47-year-old businesswoman heading to work said, “I am worried if I can get home tonight.”

At a news conference on Monday, officials from the Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism warned of the risk of disruptions to roads and public transportation, with an official recalling heavy snowfall in December resulting in vehicles becoming stranded in the Hokuriku region.

The agency said heavy snowfall is expected in areas along the Sea of Japan as well as in some low-lying areas on the nation’s Pacific side. Snowfall forecasts through Wednesday morning predicted up to 90 centimeters of accumulation in parts of the Hokuriku region; 70 cm in the Kanto-Koshin, Kinki and Chugoku regions; and 60 cm in Tohoku and Tokai regions, with snow also expected in Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Heavy snow is expected to continue into Thursday and Friday in some regions.

Information from Kyodo added.