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.

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,

Snow has hit wide areas of Japan since late Monday, February 3, as the “strongest cold front this season” arrived in the country, local news reported.According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, heavy snow and blizzard conditions from a “strong winter pressure pattern” were expected to continue through Thursday.

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.