You've heard of lake-effect snow in the Great Lakes. Check out what a larger sea and bitter cold air helped to generate in parts of Japan.

Due to the coldest wave of the season, the Japanese archipelago experienced heavy snow mainly on the Sea of Japan coast Feb. 6. Snow accumula･･･

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 47 inches of snowfall occurred during a 12-hour period on Monday in Obihiro, with blizzard conditions likely across northeast parts of the country. The agency warned residents to be on guard for heavy snow,

The Japan Meteorological Agency extended its heavy snowfall warning to around Feb. 9, mainly on the Sea of Japan side, after snow covered several municipalities on Feb. 6.

The cold air mass is expected to fluctuate in intensity and persist until the weekend, with heavy snow forecast for Hokkaido, Tohoku and Hokuriku later this week.

There’s so much snow on the ground in Hokkaido, Japan, that it’s blocking the doors and windows of homes and businesses on the island in the northern part of the country. Cities like Obihiro and Kushiro are breaking snow records and more snow is on the way.

Travel disruption as Japan hit with record-breaking snow - Record-breaking snowfall fell on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido on Tuesday

A city in Japan's Hokkaido sees almost4 feet of snow fall in only 12 hours:: saron17 via Instagram:: Obihiro, Japan:: 5, 2025The Meteorological Agency said a powerful low pressure system and moist air caused heavy snow to persist in Obihiro city in Hokkaido from Monday (February 3) night,

Heavy snowfall affected parts of Hokkaido from the night of Monday, February 3, into Tuesday, February 4. The Pacific side of Hokkaido recorded the highest snowfall on record in the country, with Obihiro receiving 120 centimeters of snow in just 12 hours on Tuesday.