Japan sets new record high temperature of 41.8C
Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as climate change creates ever more erratic weather patterns, and Japan is no exception.
The scorching temperatures in the city of Isesaki on Tuesday surpassed the previous record seen in the western Hyogo region of 41.2C only last week.
Japan's summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equalling the level seen in 2023, followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago.
Last week in tourist hotspot Kyoto the mercury hit 40C, the first time any of its observation points -- the oldest opened in 1880, the newest in 2002 -- had seen such a high, authorities said.
Experts warn Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate -- or sometimes not fully blossoming -- because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.
The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October.
July was also the hottest since records began in 1898, the weather agency said Friday, with the average monthly temperature 2.89C above the 1991-2020 average.
- South Korea sizzles -
South Korea also saw its second-hottest July, with an average temperature of 27.1C, according the meteorological office, which has been collecting such data since 1973.
The hottest July on record in South Korea was in 1994, when the average temperature reached 27.7 degrees Celsius.
In Japan some dams and paddies nationwide are experiencing a water shortage, with farmers complaining that the sizzling heat combined with the lack of rain is slowing rice cultivation.
Precipitation in July was low over wide areas of Japan, with northern regions facing the Sea of Japan experiencing record low rainfall, it added.
The rainy season ended about three weeks earlier than usual in western regions of Japan, another record.
Every summer, Japanese officials urge the public to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms to avoid heatstroke.
The elderly in Japan -- which has the world's second-oldest population after Monaco -- are particularly at risk.
This year western Europe saw its hottest June on record, as extreme temperatures blasted the region in punishing back-to-back heatwaves, according to the EU climate monitor Copernicus.
Dangerous weather stretched into July, with separate research estimating that climate change made the temperature up to 4C hotter, pushing the thermometer into deadly territory for thousands of vulnerable people and greatly worsening the projected death toll.
Millions were exposed to high heat stress as daily average temperatures in western Europe climbed to levels rarely seen before -- and never so early in the summer.
tmo-stu/fox
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rental units in unincorporated L.A. County must stay cool under new law
Los Angeles County will soon require landlords in unincorporated parts of the county to keep their rental units 82 degrees or below to protect vulnerable tenants from the impacts of climate change. Supervisors said Tuesday that the law, which passed 4-0, was necessary to combat heat-related deaths, which have increased across the nation. Supervisor Kathryn Barger was not present for the vote. 'As we continue to face warmer summers, the ordinance is meant to provide relief to our unincorporated residents and to protect them from the dangers of extreme heat in their homes,' said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who pushed for staff to start drafting the law last year. The law is set to take effect next month, but it will not be enforced until Jan. 2027, though landlords can ask for an extension. Both old and newly constructed rental units will need to comply. Read more: Triple-digit temperatures on deck as heat wave descends on SoCal, elevating fire, health concerns Landlords with fewer properties will have additional time. Supervisor Janice Hahn introduced an amendment so that landlords who own 10 units or less will be able to keep just one room at 82 degrees or lower until 2032. Officials said deadly heat waves, which have become more frequent and intense across the state, presented a clear public health emergency for the county. 'Communities across Los Angeles County in my district, especially in the San Fernando Valley, are experiencing previously unimaginable temperatures,' said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. 'Woodland Hills alone has recorded 121 degrees. This is unthinkable.' In Phoenix, landlords are required to keep units with air conditioning at 82 degrees or below. In Clark County, Nev., units can't go above 85 degrees. In Palm Springs, units need to have air conditioning and can't go above 80 degrees. Officials said the new law will be enforced through complaints, so tenants can call the county if they believe the temperature in their unit is too high. An inspector with the county's Department of Public Health would then be dispatched to inspect the unit. Barbara Ferrer, the head of the department, said the goal was to get the homes as cool as possible without issuing a fine. 'The way forward, frankly, isn't going to be to rely on that authority to issue citations,' she said. 'It's going to be to educate folks.' Read more: Dealing with extreme heat is a full-time job for parents of young kids — and their schools County officials said they were encouraging landlords to cool down units through 'passive," environmentally-friendly methods other than air conditioners. That could include blackout curtains, reflective roofing and triple-paned windows Fred Sutton, with the California Apartment Assn., said he was concerned that, by requiring every room to be at a certain temperature, landlords could be penalized if just one room got too hot. 'You could have your bedrooms, living room, and dining room actively cooled, but the kitchen is not actively cooled and gets to 83 degrees,' he said. 'You are creating really tough scenarios in a building that's totally adequately cooled.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
California fires are burning, incoming heat wave could make things worse
Authorities in California are bracing themselves for a prolongued heat wave this week that could amplify the risks of a wildfire and intensify fires already burning in the southern and central portions of the state. The warming trend is forecast to bake almost all of inland California over the next week, dialing up the heat on what's already been a fiery summer in the state's southern half, and raising the risks up north after a relatively quiet start to the season. 'This week will definitely bring those elevated fire weather conditions," said Adam Roser, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Diego. In Southern California, "the vegetation is still very dry. ... [and] these are definitely some of the hotter temperatures we've seen so far this summer." Southern California's hottest days are expected to be Wednesday through Friday, when much of the interior is under heat advisories as temperatures are forecast to range from the upper 90s to the triple digits across many valleys and deserts. Palm Springs could reach up to 118 on Thursday while downtown Los Angeles could hit 90. Weather service officials warn that there will be an increased risk for heat sickness and fires to start and grow out of control. Read more: California is on pace for its worst wildfire year in recent memory, and SoCal is mostly to blame Already, much of inland Southern California is under a wildfire smoke advisory from three large fires burning in the region: the Gifford fire in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — now California's largest blaze of the year at 82,000 acres, the Rosa fire in Riverside County and the Gold fire in San Bernardino County. Inland Northern California will see temperatures climb by this weekend, when highs are forecast to reach into the triple digits across many areas. Parts of the Sacramento Valley could reach 107, while areas of the state's northwest corner could see highs of 105 to 113. In the San Francisco Bay Area away from the coast, highs could reach into upper 90s. Although the fire threat there remained unseasonably low for much of July, the weather service warned that vegetation has started to dry out and will continue to do so as temperatures rise. "The warming trend we're forecast to have will only compound our concerns," said Matt Mahle, a Bay Area meteorologist at the weather service who pointed out that the region has seen several small fires over the last week. But luckily, strong winds aren't forecast to mix with this heat wave, which could result in a deadly wildfire recipe. Still, the scenario this week has the potential for dangerous conditions, with a easy-to-burn vegetation, high temperatures and low humidity. Officials say those conditions can help foster fires that can create their own winds. That phenomena, known as a plume-dominated fire, has been spotted several times by crews fighting the Gifford fire, where massive smoke plumes have shot hundreds of feet in the air, then collapsed on itself, creating localized wind gusts. The Gifford fire, burning mostly in the Los Padres National Forest along mountains in the Central Coast, was only 7% contained as of Tuesday morning, with a major stretch of State Route 166, east of Santa Maria, still closed, according to the latest update from the U.S. Forest Service. More than 500 homes in nearby rural communities have been evacuated, officials said, and almost 900 structures remain threatened as the fire continues to grow. Crews there have been battling the flames in 90-degree heat since last week, but are bracing for temperatures near 100 through Friday, which will create more challenging conditions and increase fire behavior, said Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck. "And then for the firefighters, they're exerting themselves in extreme temperatures," Safechuck said. Crews also are battling two smaller fires in inland Southern California, both of which ignited Monday. The Rosa fire in the Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside County appeared to be holding at 1,2000 acres as of Tuesday morning, though evacuation orders remained in place. In the San Bernardino County mountains, the Gold fire burned through 348 acres Monday and remained at that size Tuesday morning, despite officials reporting challenging conditions, including short-range spot fires and rugged terrain. Neither the Rosa fire nor the Gold fire had any containment as of Tuesday morning. Read more: Southern California on alert for severe wildfires after dry winter These active fires only add to an exceptionally busy fire year, which is looking like it could be California's worst year in recent memory. Southern and Central California have driven that active start to the year, recording several major fires, including Los Angeles County's unprecedented January firestorms. But officials say there's still a lot of time for things to change, as late summer and early fall are often the busiest time. This week's heat wave is expected to exacerbate those challenges. 'These are definitely some of the hotter temperatures we've seen so far this summer,' said Roser, the meteorologist in San Diego. "This might be one of the longer [heat waves] this year." A widespread heat advisory has been issued for much of San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties from Wednesday through Friday, with highs expected in the Inland Empire up to 105. San Diego County's valleys could see temperatures peak around 102, while inland Orange County, the Santa Ana Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains will reach into the 90s. An extreme heat warning will be in effect Wednesday through Friday for the Coachella Valley, the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, the San Diego County deserts and into California's southeastern deserts, with highs expected to reach 106 to 118. "An extreme heat warning means that a period of very hot temperatures, even by local standards, will occur. Actions should be taken to lessen the impact of the extreme heat," the warning said. "Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency!" The weather service's heat risk map warns of widespread moderate risk across Southern California on Thursday, with a major risk across the low desert. The coast will be largely spared. Much of inland Northern California will see a moderate heat risk by Saturday. In the L.A. area, officials are expecting triple-digit temperatures in the hottest valleys and high deserts Thursday and Friday, including Santa Clarita and Lancaster, while highs are forecast to reach into the 90s in Sherman Oaks and Pasadena. Bryan Lewis, a weather service meteorologist in Oxnard, said that Southern California could come close to reaching its hottest day this year on Thursday, when the heat wave is expected to peak in the Southland. Temperatures should fall slightly by the weekend, but remain several degrees above average for days, possibly through next Wednesday, Lewis said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
If Trump really wants to improve economic data, here are better ways
When the weather forecast calls for rain, you might decide to grab an umbrella. What you would not do is break the TV and fire the meteorologist — just because you don't like rain. But that is akin to what President Donald Trump did on Friday when he fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics a few hours after she released a disappointing jobs report and published revisions to earlier reports that had made the labor market look stronger than it was during the spring.
