Storms blast parts of Russia after 6-foot snow buries country’s Far East, stranding air travelers

Russia’s Far East was buried under meters of snow by its heaviest snowfall in 60 years on Tuesday as a winter blast swept across Asia, dusting Shanghai white and grounding flights in Japan’s northwest.

The cold snap disrupted transport across the region, closing roads in China, stranding air travelers in Japan and leaving parts of Russia’s Far East paralyzed.

Scientists said the weather was related to waves of cool air coming in from the Arctic, which was simultaneously affecting Eastern Russia and Asia, and a second, affecting Eastern Europe.

A view of the heaviest snowfall in the past 30 years is seen in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia on January 19, 2026. Anadolu via Getty Images

“You’ve got these two simultaneous bursts of cool air coming down from