Hokkaido experiences coldest winter day so far; Furano showcases breathtaking snowy "diamond dust"

▲ A snow-white wonderland in Furano, Hokkaido, with beautiful diamond dust. (Photo / fromFurano Tourism Association’s official Facebook page, same below)

Reported by Lai Wen-hsuan / Taipei

While Taiwan is basking in warm weather, Hokkaido in Japan experienced its coldest day of the winter season on the 23rd, with temperatures dropping to minus 21.5 degrees Celsius in Furano City and minus 17.2 degrees in Asahikawa. The snow-blanketed scenery resembled a dreamy fairy-tale world, and the appearance of stunning "diamond dust" in Furano City was truly breathtaking.

▲ Hokkaido's Furano hits winter’s lowest temperature, transforming into a silver-white world.

On the 23rd, ultra-low temperatures were recorded across Hokkaido, with Furano City at minus 21.5 degrees Celsius. Delicate snowflakes fell from the sky, turning the entire city into a silver-white wonderland. In the early morning, the spectacular "diamond dust" and "frost fog" phenomena appeared, creating an amazing sight.

▲ Minus 21.5 degrees in Furano, Hokkaido.

Ice crystals are tiny ice particles that can be observed near the ground surface, often appearing during temperature inversion when warm and cold air mix. They sparkle brilliantly under sunlight, and due to the English translation, they are sometimes called "diamond dust" or "diamond star dust."

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