Record-breaking snowfall has blanketed vast areas of northern Japan, causing significant disruptions. Strong north-westerly winds and low-pressure systems brought frigid air from other parts of Asia, leading to extreme weather conditions.
In Obihiro’s Takachi district, located in Hokkaido, an unprecedented 129 cm (4 ft) of snow accumulated in just 12 hours this week. The severe weather has impacted transportation, leaving vehicles stranded, grounding flights, canceling train services, and shutting down hundreds of schools.
Temperatures in parts of Japan have plunged below -10°C, while powerful winds have created rough seas along the northwest coast. Additional snowfall of 40-80 cm (16-32 in) fell later in the week across several prefectures, including Niigata, Tohoku, and Hokuriku.
Meanwhile, in Queensland, Australia, relentless heavy rain has led to severe flooding, claiming two lives this week. Authorities urged thousands of residents to move to higher ground after more than 1,100 mm of rainfall inundated towns like Ingham and Townsville—an amount equivalent to six months of rain. The flooding left around 10,000 homes without power and caused part of a highway to collapse near Ingham, hampering recovery efforts on Sunday.
In the United States, parts of California were hit by torrential rain and mountain snow, resulting in widespread flooding and landslides. The Palmetto neighborhood, about 17 miles east of Chico, recorded over 600 mm of rainfall since last Friday, while surrounding areas exceeded 500 mm. At Mount Shasta, a ski resort in northern California, 172 cm (68 in) of snow fell in the past week, with 130 cm (51 in) accumulating in just three days.
The intense rainfall triggered a landslide in Forestville, Sonoma County, causing a house to collapse into the Russian River on Wednesday. Evacuation orders were issued for all low-lying areas downstream due to the heightened flood risk. In Los Angeles County, the heavy rain has increased the likelihood of mudslides and debris flow, particularly in regions still recovering from wildfires. Flood watches remain in effect, with more rain anticipated in the coming days.
