Japan Records First 40°C in June... Early Heatwave Hits

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] An early heatwave has arrived in Japan, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for the first time in June.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency on the 26th, as clear skies and rising temperatures centered on eastern Japan continued, Isesaki City in Gunma Prefecture recorded 40.2 degrees Celsius around 3 p.m. on the 25th. This is the highest temperature ever recorded in Japan for the month of June.

Tokyo's city center also rose to 35.4 degrees Celsius that day, with 64 observation points nationwide exceeding 35 degrees.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, this is the earliest time since records began in 1875 that Tokyo's city center has exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.

The early heatwave is analyzed to be due to the Pacific high-pressure system located south of the Japanese archipelago strongly expanding northward, causing the rainy season front to move north and creating a summer pressure pattern with increased solar radiation.

On the 26th as well, temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius are expected to continue in inland areas of Kanto and Koshin (Tokyo Metropolis, Kanagawa Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture).

The Meteorological Agency forecasts that the heatwave with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius will continue until the end of this month.