Latest news with #Sepat
The Star
a day ago
- Climate
- The Star
Japan's heat wave may last for weeks in boost to energy demand
People walking through artificial mist to cool down on a hot day in Tokyo recently. - AFP TOKYO: Japan is forecast to continue baking over the next two weeks as temperatures remain well above average, likely boosting energy demand and keeping power prices elevated. Daily maximum temperatures, now hovering around 28 degrees C are set to consistently breach 30 deg C next week and go as high as 32 deg C during the second week of July, according to a forecast from Atmospheric G2. The soaring mercury in Japan comes as North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia experience hot conditions this week, taxing power grids and raising the prospect of spiking energy prices across three continents. Beijing saw highs of 40 deg C on Tuesday, and parts of China including Hebei province are forecast to breach that level on Wednesday, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Driving Japan's prolonged heat wave is a high-pressure system extending west from the Pacific, which is trapping heat close to the surface, said Takahisa Nishikawa, lead meteorologist for Japan at The Weather Company. Known as the Pacific high, this area of high atmospheric pressure is stronger than normal for this time of year as a result of warm sea-surface temperatures, he added. On Monday, Japan's nationwide next-day power prices jumped around 25% to a 15-week high. The rise in demand for cooling is stretching a grid that's already under pressure from ongoing power plant maintenance. Bringing some temporary relief from the heat is Tropical Depression Sepat, which is approaching Japan from the south and is expected to weaken as it nears Tokyo. The storm, along with a stationary frontal system, is triggering cloudy and rainy conditions and lowering maximum daytime temperatures, said James Caron, director of meteorological operations for North America and Asia at Atmospheric G2. The cloudy conditions will temporarily help moderate temperatures, but they also lead to warmer nights and lower solar power output. "Cloud cover acts like an insulating blanket at night, trapping heat that the Earth's surface radiates after sunset,' Caron said. By next week, another wave of uncomfortably high temperatures is predicted to sweep across Japan, as an elongated high-pressure system - known as a ridge - sits over the country. "As one ridge departs, another seems to take its place, leading to a prolonged heat wave,' said Tucker Bradley, a meteorologist at Vaisala. With electricity supplies already tight, consecutive days of high temperatures next week could cause power prices to spike, said Yu Koyanagi, an energy trader at MFT Energy. The heat wave could stretch beyond early July. Weather models are forecasting the possibility of another tropical storm developing south of Japan in the week starting July 7, although its path is still uncertain. If the storm tracks toward Taiwan and China, it can draw warm and humid air from the tropics toward Japan, bringing another round of heightened temperatures, Caron said. - Bloomberg
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
‘Sepat' unlikely to enter PAR; LPA has ‘low' chance of becoming storm — PAGASA
Tropical Storm "Sepat' is unlikely to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) while the low pressure area inside PAR has a 'low' chance of becoming a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, PAGASA said Monday afternoon. As of 2 p.m., Sepat was located 2,330 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon. Meanwhile, at 3 p.m., the LPA was observed 185 km west of Cubi Point, Subic Bay International Airport. The storm will affect the weather conditions of Zambales and Bataan, according to the state weather bureau's 4 p.m. daily weather forecast. Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Pangasinan, Negros Occidental, and the rest of Central Luzon. These moderate to at times heavy rains may cause flash floods and landslides. The rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the localized thunderstorms. Similar weather conditions will persist over the rest of the country due to the Habagat. These severe thunderstorms may trigger flash floods and landslides. State meteorologists also said winds will be light to moderate, while coastal waters will be slight to moderate throughout the country. Sunrise in Metro Manila will be at 5:29 a.m. on Tuesday. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Typhoon Sepat Forms near Ogasawara Islands
Typhoon Sepat, also referred to as Typhoon No. 2, formed in waters near the Ogasawara Islands on Monday morning, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. As of 9 a.m. Monday, the typhoon was off the coast of the Ogasawara Islands, moving northwest at 15 kph with a central pressure of 1,004 hectopascals. After approaching Chichijima Island, the typhoon is expected to weaken into a tropical storm by Wednesday morning.
