Due to record-breaking snowstorms from the 25th to the 26th, 56 flights were canceled at Japan's New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, forcing about 7,000 passengers to spend the night stranded at the airport, while ground transportation around Sapporo was largely paralyzed.
From the night of the 26th to the morning of the 27th, there were still about 2,000 people stranded at the airport.
Sapporo and other areas experienced record snowfall, and JR train and bus services to New Chitose Airport were suspended. Even after trains resumed operation, there were still serious delays and chaotic conditions at the scene.
Due to the cold wave, many regions in Japan had much higher snow accumulation than the average for previous years, especially along the Sea of Japan coast. On the 27th, a low-pressure system is expected to pass through, bringing even stronger snowfall and strong winds, mainly affecting areas from Hokkaido to Hokuriku. Rain is also expected in parts of Hokuriku and Chugoku regions.