Abstract
In this study, we estimated the visibility reduction due to blowing snow and created a blowing snow map of Hokkaido in 2017/2018 winter (December-February) with 1km resolution data. We also analyzed mean sea level pressure (MSLP) anomalies in the winter using the self-organizing map (SOM) in order to examine synoptic characteristics which resulted in the blowing snow conditions. We used a 1km dynamically downscaled data to make the blowing snow map and 60-year JRA-55 data to produce the SOM. Blowing snow developed frequently in the Ishikari plain and along the coastline of the Sea of Japan. In the SOM analysis, MSLP anomalies were classified into three patterns, positive pressure anomalies over Japan, negative pressure anomalies over central Japan or the Sea of Japan, and negative pressure anomalies east or southeast of Hokkaido. The third pattern resulted in the highest frequency of blowing snow events over Hokkaido.
