Heatwave throughout Japan to persist into Wednesday
The Meteorological Agency said a high-pressure system on Tuesday pushed up temperatures nationwide.
Daytime highs hit 39 degrees in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 38.6 degrees in Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, and 38.5 degrees in Daigo Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. Temperatures were more than 10 degrees higher than usual in eastern areas of Hokkaido in northern Japan.
For Wednesday in Hokkaido, weather officials forecast daytime highs of 39 degrees in Kitami City, 38 degrees in Obihiro City and 37 degrees in Mombetsu City.
In parts of Kitami City, the temperature could reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius, in what's being described as life-threatening heat.
Elsewhere in the country, the mercury is expected to reach 39 degrees in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and 38 degrees in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture.
Heatstroke alerts have been issued for wide areas around the archipelago from Hokkaido to Kyushu in the southwest. People are advised to use air conditioning, consume adequate amounts of water and salt, and to take breaks during outdoor activities.
Weather officials say atmospheric conditions have become unstable mainly in inland areas of eastern Japan due to the intense heat and a cold air mass.
They say heavy rain is possible mainly in eastern Japan on Tuesday night and Wednesday. They are calling for caution against flooding, mudslides, swollen rivers, lightning strikes, gusts and hail.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
3 days ago
- NHK
Extreme heat continues to wallop Hokkaido and Japan at large
Those hoping for a break from Japan's punishing heat wave will have to wait a little longer. Weather officials say Thursday was still a scorcher, especially for the northern prefecture of Hokkaido. NHK World's Aoki Midori in Obihiro explains what it's like.
NHK
3 days ago
- NHK
Japan begins using new tsunami warning label when equipment fails
The Japan Meteorological Agency has begun using the label "data not available" when tsunami observation systems are damaged and unable to function. The agency aims to help the public understand when a large tsunami may be approaching so they can take action to protect their lives. The JMA implemented the new system at noon on Thursday. The agency says it will report a "data not available" status for locations where information on tsunami cannot be obtained. The move is based on lessons learned from the earthquake in the Noto Peninsula. When an earthquake with a risk of tsunami occurs, the agency typically issues a major tsunami warning, tsunami warning, or tsunami advisory within about three minutes. It also provides updates on the observed time and height of tsunamis at different locations, using data from observation systems installed along the coast. But during last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake, the tsunami gauges set up at a fishing port in Ishikawa Prefecture's Suzu City became inoperable after the land in the area was uplifted. As a result, the agency was unable to publish tsunami height or other data, even though waves were approaching the city. The JMA was also unable to capture data when a major earthquake struck off the coast of the Tohoku region. Observation facilities were damaged by debris swept in by the massive tsunami. The agency says that if people see or hear the "data not available" label while tsunami warnings are in place, they should assume a large tsunami might be approaching and evacuate immediately.
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Japan Times
Record number of people sent to hospital for heatstroke in June, data shows
The number of people in Japan sent to hospital by ambulance in June due to heatstroke more than doubled from a year before to 17,229, the highest for the month on record dating back to 2010, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday. The previous June high was 15,969 cases, logged in 2022. Many areas across Japan experienced maximum temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on multiple days last month. Of those hospitalized, 10,342 were age 65 or over, accounting for about 60% of the total. The largest share, at 6,819 cases, occurred at home or in other residential settings, followed by 3,404 cases on roads. The agency is calling on people to stay at home on days when a heatstroke alert is issued and to use air conditioners or fans appropriately.
