The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded 231 observation points with temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or above as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Consequently this record heat affected a wide area of the country. A spot in Date city, Fukushima Prefecture, marked 35.1 degrees Celsius at 1:55 p.m. Therefore Date became the hottest place in Japan on Tuesday.
The agency defines any day above 30 C as a midsummer day. Temperatures above 35 C qualify as an extremely hot day. Thus this record heat pushed Date into the extreme category. The agency also issued heatstroke alerts for several prefectures. They urged people to stay indoors and use air conditioning.
Summer in Japan typically peaks in August, but this record heat arrived in late spring. The 231 observation points represent a significant portion of the agency’s nationwide monitoring network. Many regions saw their highest May temperatures in several years. Meanwhile Date’s 35.1 C exceeded the local average for this date by nearly 10 degrees.
The agency expects similar conditions to continue through Thursday. Officials will monitor the situation for any health emergencies. This record heat serves as an early signal for a potentially severe summer. Residents should check daily updates before any outdoor activities. The agency advises drinking water frequently and avoiding direct sunlight.
