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

The weather agency warned of blizzards, high waves and hazardous road conditions through the weekend, urging residents to avoid nonessential travel.

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 Meteorological Agency in Japan is calling on people to be on the alert, as frigid air is forecast to flow into regions along the Sea of Japan. In the northern part of the country, people are already seeing record snowfall.

In Obihiro, a record-breaking snowfall of 129 centimetres (4 feet) was detected on Tuesday. The Japan Meteorological Agency said two powerful low pressure systems are moving on both sides of the Japanese archipelago, sending cold air into the region.

The heavy snow and traffic disruptions came just as a popular snow festival began in Sapporo in southern Hokkaido, although the city did not face major disruptions. Television footage showed residents shoveling snow and passengers pushing vehicles that got stuck.