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Japan experiences hottest July in nearly 130 years
Japan has just recorded its hottest July since 1898, with average temperatures 2.89°C above the seasonal norm, surpassing the previous year’s record of 2.16°C, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The blistering heat follows an already record-breaking June, which was officially declared the hottest ever in Japan. Meteorologists warn that the extreme heat is expected to continue into August.
Last Wednesday, a record temperature of 41.2°C was reported in Hyogo Prefecture, in western Japan. Overall, July saw low rainfall in many regions, particularly in the north and along the Sea of Japan coast.
In 2024, Japan had already experienced its hottest summer ever, on par with 2023, followed by its warmest autumn since measurements began 126 years ago. This year, the rainy season ended about three weeks earlier than usual in western regions.
These climate disruptions are impacting the country's natural cycles. Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms are blooming earlier—and sometimes incompletely—due to warmer conditions and milder winters. Similarly, Mount Fuji’s snow cap, typically visible in early October, did not appear last year until early November.
While meteorologists caution against linking any single weather event directly to climate change, the scientific community agrees that human-driven global warming increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events—both in Japan and globally.