Heavy snowfall in northern Japan caused significant disruption on Tuesday, grounding flights and stranding thousands of travelers as families prepared to reunite for the New Year celebrations.

Japan Airlines canceled 42 flights by early afternoon, affecting 6,398 passengers, primarily to and from the northernmost island of Hokkaido. ANA, its main competitor, also scrapped 14 flights, impacting 800 travelers, and cautioned customers about further delays and potential cancellations due to severe weather.

Hokkaido’s main airport saw long queues of stranded passengers scrambling to book alternative flights. Some resigned themselves to welcoming 2025 in the departure lounge.

“It was amazing to see snow, but I never thought I’d be stuck here,” a traveler bound for Okinawa told broadcaster HTB. “I might have to spend the night at the airport.”

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported strong winds and heavy snowfall across Hokkaido and coastal areas facing the Sea of Japan. Over 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) of snow fell in parts of Hokkaido since Monday, most of it on Tuesday morning, with continued snowfall expected through New Year’s Day.

This weather comes after a year of climate extremes in Japan. The country experienced its joint hottest summer on record, matching the heatwaves of 2023, and its warmest autumn in 126 years.

Mount Fuji, Japan's iconic peak, remained without its usual snowcap for the longest period in recorded history, with snow not appearing until November—an entire month later than average.

The contrasting extremes of heat and snow underscore the growing challenges posed by climate change, which continue to reshape weather patterns worldwide.