Japan on heatstroke alert as summer heat intensifies

Japan experienced severe summer heat in many parts, including Tokyo, with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius, prompting the first heatstroke alert of the year for the Tokyo area.

The high humidity further increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, necessitating caution among the public, warned the national weather agency Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The JMA has issued heatstroke alerts for 15 prefectures, including the Tokyo region, urging people to take necessary precautions and avoid outdoor activities.

Thursday saw the influence of a high-pressure system, which brings intense summer heat, strengthening as the rainy season front weakened. It brought strong sunshine and extreme temperatures to many areas nationwide, or what local media called "disaster-level summer heat."

In central Tokyo, the daytime temperature quickly rose before noon, reaching a high of 35 degrees Celsius, marking the first heat wave day of the year. Meanwhile, the prefectures of Shizuoka, Gunma and Tochigi are expected to see temperatures as high as 38 degrees Celsius, according to the JMA.

Shizuoka recorded a temperature of 38.9 degrees Celsius, the highest in Japan this year and a record for the prefecture since observations began in 1940.

On Friday, the intense heat will continue from Kanto to Kyushu with sunny skies and high temperatures persisting, weather forecasts showed, with afternoon rain expected in Tohoku, Hokuriku, and the Sea of Japan side of western Japan.

With more widespread clouds and rain due to the rainy season front expected on Saturday, scorching heat will again sweep from Kanto to Kyushu's Pacific side on Sunday.

(Cover: Pedestrians shelter from the sun under parasols as they cross a street in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan, July 4, 2024. /CFP)