A yellow sandstorm covered wide areas of western and northern Japan on Thursday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to warn of possible disruptions to transportation due to poor visibility. In ...

In Japan, yellow sand is most commonly seen in the spring. This year, it was first observed in central Tokyo and Osaka on March 30.

Spring winds cause sandstorms in Japan. Yellow sand originates in China's desert regions, where strong winds can pick up massive amounts of it. Sandstorms are often reported in Japan in spring.