Members from the 374th Security Forces Squadron patrol the taxiway during a winter snowstorm at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 29, 2012. Eight and a half inches of snow fell in fifteen hours, causing base leadership to call out the plows to clear the runway, taxiways and roadways. According to the 374th Operations Support Squadron weather flight, the snowfall was caused from an abundance of moisture from "Shanghai Low", the low pressure system which usually moves along the southern coastline of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

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A snow-covered C-130 Hercules sits on the flight line at Yokota Air Base, Japan during a heavy snow fall, Feb. 29, 2012. Eight and a half inches of snow fell in fifteen hours, causing base leadership to call out the plows to clear the runway, taxiways and roadways. According to the 374th Operations Support Squadron weather flight, the snowfall was caused from an abundance of moisture from "Shanghai Low", the low pressure system which usually moves along the southern coastline of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

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Capt. Jeremy Stowers, 374th Operations Support Squadron, shovels snow to clear the sidewalk in front of the distinguished visitor lounge, Feb. 29, 2012 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Eight and a half inches of snow fell in fifteen hours, causing base leadership to call out the plows to clear the runway, taxiways and roadways. According to the 374th Operations Support Squadron weather flight, the snowfall was caused from an abundance of moisture from "Shanghai Low", the low pressure system which usually moves along the southern coastline of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

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Chief Master Sgt. Mark Misewicz, 374th Operations Group, shovels snow to clear the sidewalk in front of the distinguished visitor lounge, Feb. 29, 2012 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Eight and a half inches of snow fell in fifteen hours, causing base leadership to call out the plows to clear the runway, taxiways and roadways. According to the 374th Operations Support Squadron weather flight, the snowfall was caused from an abundance of moisture from "Shanghai Low", the low pressure system which usually moves along the southern coastline of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

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Plum blossoms bloom amidst snowy weather at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 29, 2012. Yokota received more than eight inches of snow that day, an uncommon sight for southern Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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A C-130 Hercules sits on melting snow following a winter storm at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 1, 2012. Eight and a half inches of snow fell in fifteen hours, causing base leadership to call out the plows to clear the runway, taxiways and roadways. According to the 374th Operations Support Squadron weather flight, the snowfall was caused from an abundance of moisture from "Shanghai Low", the low pressure system which usually moves along the southern coastline of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

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Airmen from the 36th Airlift Squadron prepare for a mission following a late winter snow storm at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 1, 2012. Eight and a half inches of snow fell in fifteen hours, causing base leadership to call out the plows to clear the runway, taxiways and roadways. According to the 374th Operations Support Squadron weather flight, the snowfall was caused from an abundance of moisture from "Shanghai Low", the low pressure system which usually moves along the southern coastline of Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

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A white leap year in Yokota

Published Feb. 29, 2012