Northerly winds signaling start of winter sweep Tokyo, western Japan

TOKYO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The season's first northerly wind, signaling the start of winter, blew in Tokyo and parts of western Japan on Monday, according to the weather agency.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said a winter pressure pattern brought the first strong northerly wind to Tokyo, with wind speeds of up to 64 km per hour being observed at 1:43 p.m. local time on Monday.

Meanwhile, several cities in the Kinki region in western Japan also experienced strong winds on Monday, with up to 59 kph in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, and 57 kph in Wakayama, among other areas, the agency said.

Monday's announcement of the winds' arrival came four days earlier for both areas than last year.

The "kogarashi" wind, considered a harbinger of winter, is defined by the JMA as the first strong northerly gust measuring at least 28.8 kph registered between mid-October and the end of November. Enditem