Latest news with #JapanMeteorologicalAgency
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Arab Times
6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's Hokkaido: JMA
TOKYO, June 2, (Xinhua): A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan's Hokkaido early Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The earthquake occurred at 3:52 a.m. local time (1852 GMT Sunday) at a shallow depth, measuring 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in areas such as Taiki and Urahoro in the eastern region of Hokkaido Prefecture, the agency said.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Arab Times
6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's Kushir
TOKYO, May 31, (Xinhua): An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck off the coast of Kushiro in Japan's Hokkaido on Saturday, local weather agency said. The temblor occurred at 5:37 p.m. local time (0837 GMT), originating at a depth of approximately 20 km, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). While slight changes in sea level may be observed along Japan's coastline, there is no concern for significant damage or a tsunami, the JMA said. Emergency services are monitoring the situation closely, and no immediate reports of injury or structural damage have been issued.
LeMonde
23-05-2025
- Climate
- LeMonde
Tokyo lowers water bills during summer to encourage residents to use air conditioning during heat waves
Concerned about reducing the number of deaths caused each summer by more intense heat waves, the Tokyo metropolitan government has decided to exempt residents of the Japanese capital from a portion of their water bills. "We will cover the fixed cost of water supply as an exceptional measure this summer," Governor Yuriko Koike announced on Tuesday, May 20. "We are worried that people are not using their air conditioners because they are concerned about the cost of living. We have considered what we could do to help them pay their bills." The variable part of the water bill – the amount consumed – is not included. Summers in Tokyo are hot and humid − even stifling. In August, average temperatures in the capital reach 34°C (93°F) with 78% humidity. The heat is made worse by the "urban heat island" effect caused by the construction of large buildings, an effect that the expansion of green spaces and rooftop gardens has not managed to offset. These large complexes restrict air circulation, especially the breezes that blow in from Tokyo Bay. At the same time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), because of global warming, temperatures recorded in June, July and August 2024 in Japan were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020.
22-05-2025
- Climate
Rainy Season 2025: Umbrella Weather in Japan
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that Southern Kyūshū entered the rainy season on May 16, marking the first time tsuyu had descended on the region ahead of usual leaders Okinawa and Amami Ōshima since records began in 1951. Amami Ōshima subsequently entered the rainy season on May 19, followed by Okinawa on May 22. The rest of Japan's main islands are expected to start tsuyu in June. In 2024, the rainy season began around one or two weeks later than average in most regions around Japan, with areas from Northern Kyūshū to the east of the country entering tsuyu successively over the course of a week from June 17. However, in many areas tsuyu ended around the yearly average or a little earlier, making for a short rainy season. In an average year, the rainy season begins in early June in areas from northern Kyūshū to Kantō Kōshin—which includes the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka—and ends around July 20. Precipitation for this period is around 500 to 600 millimeters in northern Kyūshū and 300 millimeters in the Kantō Kōshin and Tōkai regions. Precipitation Varies from Year to Year The chart below shows the amount of rainy season precipitation in the Kantō Kōshin region (including Tokyo) over the past 30 years in comparison to the amount in an average year. The quantity varies considerably from year to year. For example, during the 1990 tsuyu , the Kantō region saw only half the normal amount of rainfall. In contrast, the 2020 rainy season stretched until August 1 and dumped 1.7 times the normal amount of precipitation. (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
The Mainichi
22-05-2025
- The Mainichi
1 dead, 2 hurt after Japan train hit by suspected pipe hut in winds
NAGANO (Kyodo) -- A 56-year-old man died and two other passengers were injured after a local train's window was shattered, apparently by a pipe-frame structure blown by strong winds, Japanese police said Wednesday. The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m. on a Nagano Electric Railway train running in Suzaka, Nagano Prefecture. The object struck the first of the train's three carriages, according to the operator. A tornado warning was in effect in the central Japan city and nearby areas on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The police identified the victim who died as Yuji Kurihara, a resident of the city of Nagano. It was the first incident in Japan since 2005 in which a passenger has been killed in an accident involving a running train, according to the country's transport ministry. The train service resumed at 7 p.m., the company said.
