See it: Record snowfall buries 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, blizzards, rough seas, and the threat of avalanches. A combination of a rapidly developing storm system in the northern Sea of Japan and sea-effect snowfall appeared to have produced the record precipitation.