20 hours ago
Despite sunny day streak, Japan weather agency says rainy season has not ended
TOKYO -- The Japanese archipelago was covered by a Pacific high-pressure system on June 17, resulting in intense heat across a wide area, with east Japan's Kanto region recording this year's first "extremely hot day," when the mercury hits 35 degrees Celsius or higher. Although the Kanto-Koshin region and the Tokai region had just entered the rainy season in early June, forecasts predict a stretch of sunny days. What's happened to the rainy season?
Mineo Nishi, director of the Japan Meteorological Agency's weather consultation office, explained, "It's what we call a break in the rainy season. Just because there are consecutive sunny days doesn't mean the rainy season has ended."
According to Nishi, the Pacific high-pressure system south of Japan's main island Honshu is strengthening and moving northward, dispersing rain clouds around the rainy season front covering the archipelago. The front's activity has also weakened, and it is expected to temporarily disappear on the night of June 17, leading to more sunny days nationwide for a while.
However, from June 21 onward, the front is expected to extend back near Honshu, likely returning to typical rainy season weather through late June.
"With the intense heat expected to continue over a wide area for a while, please take precautions against heatstroke by means such as staying hydrated frequently," Nishi advised.
