Japanese weather officials are calling on people returning from their holidays in northern Japan to brace themselves for traffic disruptions. The warning comes as record amounts of snow pile up.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a winter pressure pattern and a strong cold air mass are bringing heavy snow mainly to mountainous areas in the country's north.

As of 5 p.m. on Saturday, 406 centimeters had accumulated at an observation point in Sukayu in the Hakkoda Mountains in Aomori Prefecture.

Aomori city had 122 centimeters, which is more than triple the average year.

The city of Hirosaki, also in Aomori Prefecture, had 114 centimeters at one point, a record for January.

The weather officials are urging people to be prepared for electrical blackouts caused by downed power lines.
They expect temperatures will start to rise from Monday, increasing the risk of avalanches.