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.

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.