Japan experiences its second consecutive warmest summer on record.

TOKYO – According to the meteorological bureau, Japan had its warmest summer since comparable data started being recorded in 1898, matching the record established in 2023. This was announced on Monday.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature over the three-month summer season of June through August was 1.76 C higher than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020.

The organisation determines the average temperature of the country using 15 monitoring stations. Areas like urban hotspots, which are more likely to be impacted by the environment, are not included in the selected places.

Japan has now recorded 8,821 cases of “extreme heat”—defined as 35 degrees Celsius or more—beyond the previous high of 6,692 cases observed in the previous year.

A total of 144 out of the 914 nationwide observation points broke or tied their records between June and August. Various locations logged temperatures of more than 40 C, with the mercury in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, on July 29 at 41.0 C and a tie for third place.

In August 2020, the mercury hit a record high of 41.1 C in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, tying the all-time high logged in July 2018 in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture.

With the heat expected to continue into September, the agency has urged the public to take precautions against heatstroke, including using air conditioners as needed.

Japan has now recorded 8,821 cases of “extreme heat”—defined as 35 degrees Celsius or more—beyond the previous high of 6,692 cases observed in the previous year.