Japan has recorded its hottest July on record, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Temperatures in the country averaged 2.16 degrees Celsius higher than normal, making it the warmest July since measurements began in 1898. The previous record for July was set just last year, with temperatures 1.91 degrees Celsius above average.
In several parts of Japan, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius on certain days, with the highest temperature of 41.0 degrees Celsius measured in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, on July 29. A total of 62 out of 153 observation sites across the country, including central Tokyo and Nagoya, set new temperature records. The Japan Meteorological Agency noted that a high-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean combined with “warm air from the south” was responsible for the significant temperature increase.
Authorities warn that temperatures are expected to remain above normal throughout the country in August, advising the public to stay hydrated to reduce the risk of heatstroke. They also caution that Japan may see more new record temperatures in the future due to climate change.
Since April, at least 59 people in Japan have died from heatstroke, according to government reports. The European Union’s climate monitor recently indicated that the planet has experienced its hottest day in modern history. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on countries to take action against extreme heat, which is “increasingly tearing through economies, widening inequalities, undermining sustainable development goals, and costing lives.”
In light of these developments, Japan joins several countries worldwide facing unprecedented heat as a result of ongoing climate change challenges.