Osaka Weather: Are Spring Storms on Their Way? Latest Forecast and What the Osaka Regional Headquarters' Weather Advisory Office is Really Saying

It's one of those days in Osaka, isn't it? The sky's looked unsettled since this morning. You get a bit of sun early on and think, "right, it's warming up," then, just before lunch, it clouds over completely, and now a cold rain's starting to spit. Honestly, spring weather here is as changeable as a cat.

A sudden blast of winter? Osaka Regional Headquarters issues a warning

Apparently, a real chill – a mass of cold air unusual for this time of year – is sweeping in overhead. I've heard through the grapevine that the Osaka Regional Headquarters reckons the atmosphere will be incredibly unstable through late tonight. It's not just the rain we need to watch out for, but also the risk of thunder, sudden gusts of wind, and even hail. Makes you worry about the cherry blossoms that have just started to bloom, doesn't it? Hope they don't get battered by all this.

Phones haven't stopped ringing at the Osaka Regional Headquarters' Weather Advisory Office

With this sudden shift, the Weather Advisory Office, based inside the Osaka Regional Headquarters, is having a proper hectic day of it. A mate of mine in the know was saying, "We must have easily taken over 50 calls just today. It's been non-stop since this morning with people asking, 'How long is this rain going to last?' or 'Is it safe to go out tomorrow?'" He sounded pretty overwhelmed. And you can hardly blame them, can you? This unexpected rain will have thrown a spanner in the works for plenty of people. If you've got plans for the weekend, you'd be wise to keep checking the latest updates.

Osaka Weather Outlook: Key points for the weekend

According to the forecast from the observatory, the rain should ease off for a bit around midnight tonight, but we can't afford to be complacent. Another low-pressure system could well move in over the weekend, meaning the weather's likely to be unsettled, changing in cycles. Here's a quick rundown of what to look out for.

• Thursday 19th (Night): The peak of the rain. Be alert for thunder and sudden gusts. The unsettled weather could linger into the late hours.
• Friday 20th: Things should start to improve. But it'll be chilly in the morning, so wrap up warm.
• Saturday 21st onwards: This all depends on that next low-pressure system. There's a chance of more rain. Best to check the latest weekly forecast.

It's true what they say – even though forecasts are much more accurate these days, you still can't beat nature. Spring, especially, brings these big temperature swings, so we've all got to be careful not to end up feeling under the weather. I'm taking that advice from the folks at the Weather Advisory Office to heart: "watch out for that chilly nip in the air after the rain clears." You should do the same – make sure you stay warm, everyone.