Blistering Heat Forecast To Continue Across Japan
Blistering heat gripped wide areas of Japan on Sunday, with daytime highs topping 35 degrees Celsius in Tokyo and many other places in the Kanto region.
The Meteorological Agency says a high-pressure system to the south of Japan has brought intense heat and sunshine to most parts of the country. Temperatures began to rise from the morning across Japan.
Central Tokyo logged 36.2 degrees, tying a record for the month of June. This is also the first time the Japanese capital has experienced a daytime high of over 35 degrees for two straight days in June.
Thirty locations around the country, many of them in the Kanto region, recorded daytime temperatures exceeding 35 degrees.
The mercury rose to 36.8 degrees in the cities of Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, and Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture. Tokyo's Nerima Ward and the city of Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, both logged 36.4 degrees. The city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, had a high of 36 degrees.
The extreme heat is expected to continue in the Kanto region and elsewhere on Monday. A high of 38 degrees is forecast for Kumagaya, as well as Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. Temperatures are expected to reach 35 degrees in central Tokyo, the city of Toyama, and Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture.
People are being urged to take precautions against heatstroke. These include drinking water frequently, using air conditioners properly, and removing face masks outdoors if social distancing can be maintained.