Japan experienced an extraordinary snowfall that put the country in the global spotlight as a record-breaking cold front hit Hokkaido, Japan, dumping 120 cm (4 feet) of snow in just 12 hours, disrupting travel and driven by a powerful cold front that swept through the region. The Polkus base also recorded an astonishing 6 meters of snow, one of the deepest in the world in recent years. Resorts such as Happo-One in the Hakuba Valley also boasted massive bases, with depths approaching 5.5 meters (18 feet), while Tengendai Kogen later reached 7.2 meters (23 feet) by the end of February.
This record-breaking accumulation was part of a broader wave of extreme winter weather, driven by phenomena like the Siberian Express, which funneled cold air and heavy snow across Japan.
Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain in California received 91 cm (3 feet) of snow in a single day, while Montreal broke its snowfall record with 75 cm (29.5 inches) over four days, prompting residents to stay indoors.
These events tied to a disrupted jet stream and La Niña activity, flipped the script on where snow usually falls, making February 2025 one for the books! If this pattern continues, we're likely to see unusually cold temperatures and snow even in early spring.
Comment: A report of the earlier flooding in February: North Queensland in Australia cops yet more major flooding