STORY: Russia's Far East saw its heaviest snowfall in 60 years on Tuesday.
The winter blast also brought heavy snow to parts of China and transport disruptions to Japan.
In Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, massive snowdrifts blocked building entrances and completely buried cars.
Residents dug narrow paths through the deep snow to reach their homes.
Some areas received more than six feet of snow in the first half of January alone, following a dozen feet in December.
Scientists said the weather was related to waves of cool air coming in from the Arctic.
Professor Jos Lelieveld is an atmospheric physics expert:
"So normally the jet stream is an air band of fast-moving air around the globe, which basically channels weather systems. So we have high-pressure zones and low-pressure zones. The jet stream channels these weather systems. And if the jet stream becomes wavy, unstable, then some of these weather systems are being carried far, you know, beyond the area where they would normally occur."
The wave of cold air from Russia also swept south into China.
It brought rare snowfall to Shanghai, with the financial hub last seeing snow in early 2018.
Officials said the freezing weather could last at least three days.
This resident says that the weather has been erratic, swinging from over 68 degrees Fahrenheit last week to below freezing temperatures this week.
"The temperature structure of the entire atmosphere is changing because of climate change, so this is why the jet stream is becoming more unstable. And this is then the reason why these Arctic air outbreaks can occur more frequently."
Over in Japan, strong winds and heavy snow hit the northwest coast, affecting popular ski regions.
Japanese carriers ANA and Japan Airlines canceled nearly a hundred flights affecting thousands of passengers.
The country's weather agency warned of heavy snow in northern and western Japan from January 21-25 and urged avoiding nonessential travel.
