TOKYO: Japan is highly likely to suffer a scorching summer this year, after logging the hottest summer on record last year.
Average temperatures are expected to be high in June-August across the country, and the mercury is seen especially rising in August, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Depending on weather conditions, this summer may be catastrophically hot, matching the heat last summer.
The Japan Weather Association is calling on people to inspect their air conditioners and get their bodies accustomed to heat, as early preparations to prevent heatstroke.
One of the factors behind the intense heat is the La Nina phenomenon, according to the meteorological agency. In the phenomenon, trade winds in the tropical Pacific Ocean intensify, causing sea temperatures off Peru to be lower than usual and those near Southeast Asia to rise.
This makes it more likely that high atmospheric pressure near Japan is pushed northward, bringing high temperatures.
“The likelihood of a La Nina occurrence increases in August,” an agency official said.
Average June-August temperatures in the past decade have been higher than usual. In addition, Japan is seeing longer spans of sweltering heat, with Tokyo logging 57 consecutive days of highs at 30 degrees Celsius or above last year.
The JWA is urging people to check early if their air conditioners are not broken, as repair services may be fully booked by the peak of summer and new machines may be out of stock at retailers.
The association’s website dedicated to heatstroke prevention is also recommending that people engage in light exercise and bathe in order to acclimatize to the heat. By intentionally doing things to break a sweat for about two weeks, people can get their bodies ready for the dog days, it said.
Between May and September last year, 91,467 people were rushed to the hospital for heatstroke, the second-highest since records began in 2008, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Heatstroke-related deaths have exceeded 1,000 cases annually since 2018, excluding in 2021, according to a tally by the health ministry.
Measures such as frequent hydration and use of parasols are believed to be needed more than usual this year to weather out the expected hot spell.
JIJI Press