July officially hottest since records began

Too hot to play: The hot sun shining on sunflower fields at the Kasai Rinkai Park in Tokyo. — AFP

THE Land of the Rising Sun sweltered through its hottest July since records began 126 years ago, the weather agency said, as extreme heatwaves fuelled by climate change engulfed many parts of the globe.

Temperatures in the country were 2.16°C higher than average, breaking last year’s record for July of 1.91°C above average.

“It was the highest since statistics began in 1898,” the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, noting that the figures were “considerably higher” nationwide.

Of 153 observation posts across Japan, 62 broke their average temperature record in July.

Contributing factors included a high-pressure system over the Pacific and “warm air from the south” that shrouded northern parts of the archipelago, the JMA said.

Since April, heatstroke has killed 59 people in Japan, according to the disaster management agency.

Last month, Shizuoka west of Tokyo became the first Japanese region to see the mercury reach 40°C this year – far surpassing the 35°C threshold deemed “extremely hot” by authorities. — AFP