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Seventeen temperature records were shattered across Japan on Monday, the country’s weather bureau reported, following the hottest June and July on record. Climate experts attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of heatwaves worldwide to human-induced climate change, and Japan is experiencing this trend firsthand.
In central Ishikawa, the city of Komatsu reached a new high of 104.5°F (40.3°C), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Nearby Toyama City in Toyama Prefecture recorded 103.6°F (39.8°C), the highest temperature since records began there. Additionally, fifteen other locations across various cities and towns experienced new peak temperatures ranging from 96.3°F (35.7°C) to 103.6°F (39.8°C). The JMA, which tracks temperatures at over 900 points nationwide, confirmed these records.
Japan’s western regions hit their peak temperature on July 30, with Hyogo Prefecture recording an astonishing 107.8°F (42.1°C), the highest ever in the country. The rainy season in western Japan ended about three weeks earlier than usual, marking another record. Due to insufficient rainfall and high temperatures, several dams in the north are nearly empty. Farmers are worried that water shortages and extreme heat might lead to poor harvests.
Environmental scientists warn that Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms are blooming earlier because of rising temperatures, and in some cases, the seasons aren’t cold enough to trigger full blooms. Mount Fuji’s snow cap disappeared for the longest stretch on record last year, only appearing in early November instead of the usual early October timeframe.
This year marks Japan’s hottest June and July since records tracking began in 1898. The weather agency warns that the heat is likely to persist and intensify in the months ahead. On a global scale, temperature rises aren’t uniform. Since 1990, Europe has experienced the fastest warming rate per decade, closely followed by Asia, according to data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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