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.

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.

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.