Japan sweats through hottest July on record
Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent the world over because of human-caused climate change, scientists say, and Japan is no exception.
The average temperature in July was up a record 2.89C from the 1991-2020 average for the month, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Friday.
It was the third year in a row of record-breaking average temperatures for July, it said.
On July 30, Japan experienced its highest recorded temperature, a sizzling 41.2C in the western region of Hyogo.
"The next month is expected to continue to bring severe heat throughout the country," the weather agency said.
Precipitation in July was low over wide areas of Japan, with northern regions facing the Sea of Japan experiencing record low rainfall, it added.
The rainy season ended about three weeks earlier than usual in western regions of Japan, another record.
Experts warn Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate or sometimes not fully blossoming because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.
The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October.
nf/djw/tym
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
If you feel the weather in your bones, this might be why
Some people don't need a weather app - they feel the forecast in their bones. A storm rolls in and so do throbbing heads, aching joints and mood drops. For years, this phenomenon was dismissed as imagination or coincidence. Now, with sharper tools and larger datasets, more researchers are taking weather-related symptoms seriously. As former Agriculture Department chief meteorologist Albert Peterlin put it: 'It's not the weather. It's the change in weather that causes stress.' Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Sudden swings in atmospheric pressure, humidity and temperature can lower blood oxygen saturation, the amount of oxygen your red blood cells carry, while also triggering hormonal fluctuations and cardiovascular strain - biological changes many people experience before a storm breaks, according to researchers. Falling pressure activates the autonomic nervous system and heightens pain sensitivity in people with chronic conditions, according to studies in Brain Research Bulletin and PLoSOne. The nervous system's fight-or-flight response has been linked to increased anxiety and disrupted sleep. The term for this emerging field is meteoropathy: the study of physiological reactions to environmental changes, especially barometric shifts, that disrupt circulation and rattle the nervous system. Meteoropathic illness is not yet a formal diagnosis, but more scientists are finding evidence for it. 'Doctors have long minimized these complaints as subjective,' says Sarah Mulukutla, a neurologist and adjunct professor at Yale. 'But that doesn't mean imaginary.' Evidence shows that atmospheric instability influences hormone levels, shifts that affect how pain is processed and may explain migraine attacks, joint stiffness and fatigue. - - - Cumulative effects of weather stress Pain doctors are witnessing these effects firsthand. Pavan Tankha, who leads pain recovery at the Cleveland Clinic, says chronic discomfort often worsens during weather instability. One of his patients experiences intense pain flare-ups during spring storms. 'We're observing a weather-sensitive pain phenotype,' or patients who are sensitive to atmospheric swings, Tankha says. 'These effects aren't random. They're cumulative,' says Vincent Martin, director of the University of Cincinnati's Headache and Facial Pain Center. His team found that lightning within 25 miles of a home increases migraine risk by 31 percent. Both rising and falling air density can provoke migraines and tension headaches. A 2023 Japanese study using a barometric pressure-tracking app analyzed over 336,000 headache events alongside weather records. It found that pressure drops, spikes in humidity and rainfall are strongly associated with increased headaches, confirming what many long suspected. Thanks to apps, symptom monitoring is getting smarter. Users log symptoms alongside atmospheric data, and the app learns their storm signature - a unique pattern of weather changes, such as rising pressure or dropping temperature, linked to how their body responds. The personalized approach is catching on in the United States. Peterlin built on that model, creating three-day forecasts and collaborating with pharmaceutical teams on weather-based treatments. Wearable fitness and health technology products like the Apple Watch and Whoop help researchers map the body's invisible reactions to weather in real time. According to Artificial Intelligence Review, wearable sensors can now detect early signs of cardiovascular strain, stress and even mood instability. So, what's happening inside the body? As storms approach, air weight declines and humidity rises. Pain receptors, or nerve endings in joints, muscles and tissues that detect stress, pressure or temperature shifts, send signals through the spine to the brain, where pain and emotion register. The receptors may fire in response to shifts in intracranial pressure sensed by the brain, sinuses and carotid arteries. 'Even slight shifts disrupt balance,' says UCLA neurologist Alan Rapoport, especially for migraine sufferers. (Some 12 percent of people in the United States, primarily women, are said to experience migraines.) A broader view reveals just how much these fluctuations affect us. The State of Global Air report connects climate-driven changes in air quality, temperature and humidity to increased health risks across systems. The bigger the change, the stronger the body's response. 'I don't need to check the forecast. I feel it in my head,' says Susan Cucchiara, a New York-based naturopathic doctor. She hydrates, walks and supplements with magnesium. 'It's about supporting your whole system.' Others echo that sentiment. Laurie Krupa, a patient of Cucchiara's in New Jersey, says before storms, 'pain would flare in my knees, hips and whole body, not just my head.' Today, she finds relief through movement, minerals and nutrition. Weather can hit us hard. Cold fronts, low pressure and damp air may cause tissues to swell and joints to stiffen. The Arthritis Foundation notes that many people with arthritis experience flare-ups during weather changes, particularly when humidity rises or air pressure drops. The Annals of Medicine linked these shifts to increased osteoarthritis pain. Animal research also indicates that high humidity increases inflammatory cytokines, exacerbating joint discomfort. 'Stress, mood and inflammation all interact,' says Terence Starz, retired professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He notes that tools like the Weather & Arthritis Index help patients anticipate and manage pain episodes. Even the brain isn't immune. The Journal of Physiology reports that high altitude can alter cerebral blood flow. Changes in air density also occur in pressurized flights and incoming storms. 'When air gets lighter, the brain can swell,' which contributes to headaches, says Rapoport. Those most vulnerable usually have a family history of migraine, often compounded by insomnia, stress or hormonal shifts. Baltimore psychologist Andy Santanello offers a deeper insight: 'Weather used to mean danger: cold, scarcity, stress. Our nervous system evolved to react.' The body still carries that ancient imprint. The weather-health connection isn't new. In 1947, physician William F. Petersen proposed that environmental stressors could cause headaches - a theory once dismissed is now supported by neuroscience, real-time data and AI. 'Even Hippocrates wrote about this,' says Peterlin, the former USDA meteorologist. 'Now science is finally proving it.' - - - Help for managing symptoms The weather may be unpredictable, but your body can learn to move with it. Experts recommend: Keep a journal. Tracking your symptoms daily alongside weather patterns may help predict flare-ups. 'With patterns comes predictability,' says Rapoport. Hydrate and supplement. Rapoport also recommends magnesium and riboflavin (Vitamin B2) to reduce migraine frequency. Talk to your doctor. Move gently. Tai chi, walking and yoga improve circulation and joint flexibility. Starz advises staying active but listening to your pain cues. Practice mindfulness. Breathwork and meditation help regulate the nervous system. Mulukutla uses both in treating chronic pain. Use wearables. Tools like the Apple Watch, Whoop, Migraine Mentor and N1-Headache help track patterns and atmospheric shifts. Be proactive. On sensitive days, prioritize sleep, limit stress and reduce screen time. These days, when the weather turns and my body knows it, I stretch, hydrate, rest - and check flights to somewhere sunnier. Related Content Pets are being abandoned, surrendered amid Trump's immigration crackdown The Post exposed this farmer's struggle. Then the USDA called. Kamala Harris will not run for California governor, opening door for 2028 run Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Officials declare state of emergency as gargantuan fires blaze across vast area: 'We have fires in every region'
Officials declare state of emergency as gargantuan fires blaze across vast area: 'We have fires in every region' Massive wildfires have forced thousands of Manitoba residents from their homes and led to the Canadian province being put under a state of emergency. What's happening? For roughly two months, Manitoba has been battling huge wildfires. The early fire season started in late May, as The Guardian reported, with tens of thousands of people having to be airlifted out of wildfire zones. Just at that time, the blazes had already burned nearly a half-million acres — roughly three times the province's yearly average — and led to the first state of emergency. Another state of emergency was announced on July 10 as more wildfires surged. As of July 21, CBC News reports, the province had 120 active fires, with 331 having been discovered in total during the fire season. The number of acres burned had increased to 3.2 million. And as of early August, there are nearly 130 active wildfires in Manitoba, with outdoor events frequently being canceled during what Global News has called the region's "summer of smoke filled with toxins." "This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said in a May press conference, per The Guardian. "For the first time, it's not a fire in one region, we have fires in every region. "That is a sign of a changing climate that we are going to have to adapt to." Why are wildfires important? The change that Kinew referred to is a warming planet. Last year was the warmest in Earth's recorded history, a record that will likely be broken in the next few years. This temperature hike, scientists agree, is human-caused, as the burning of dirty fuels causes toxic gases to be released into the atmosphere, trapping our planet's heat. This change also leads to extreme weather events, including wildfires, happening more frequently and with more severity. In Canada, officials have noted that the fire season is starting earlier and lasting longer than ever before. These effects are being seen far outside of Canada. In recent years, wildfires have spiked by 150% in the Amazon. And experts note that some fires have become so large, they've created their own "fire weather." Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done about wildfires? Even in difficult times, some people are able to use their knowledge and ingenuity to come up with helpful solutions. For instance, one Canadian college student whose family lives in Manitoba created an interactive map that helps communities track the fires and find nonprofits to help those affected. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heat wave coming to Southern California: Here's when temperatures will spike
The Brief Southern California is preparing for its hottest weather of the summer, with temperatures expected to rise significantly starting on Wednesday. The heat is caused by a high-pressure system, which will push inland temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal and create a heightened fire risk. The peak of the heat wave is forecast for Thursday, with a cooldown expected to begin by Saturday. LOS ANGELES - Southern California this week is bracing for what appears to be the hottest weather so far this summer. According to the National Weather Service, warmer-than-normal temperatures will begin on Wednesday and peak on Thursday across Southern California. Temperatures will rise sharply, as much as 10 degrees above normal, especially inland. "This warming will push many interior areas to 4 to 6 degrees over normal, with 90s in the valleys and 100-103 degree readings in the western San Fernando Valley," the agency said. The agency warns that potentially hazardous heat is possible on Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10. "Most areas will end up 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Two exceptions will be the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Calabasas area where max temps will be 10 to 12 degrees above normal." Max temps in the valleys will range from 95 to 106 degrees, with the deserts sizzling with max temps from 105 to 107 degrees. The hot temperatures are the result of a high-pressure system expanding over the region. Accompanying the heat will be widespread strong winds, elevating fire weather danger. The NWS has issued an elevated fire weather warning for Santa Barbara County from Wednesday, Aug. 6 to Saturday, Aug. 9 due to this increased heat. Officials said heat advisories are likely for most of the Los Angeles area but will be issued towards the end of the week when temperatures will be hottest. A cooldown is expected by Saturday, Aug. 9. According to the NWS, the only triple-digit heat will be found in the Antelope Valley, with the warmest valley locations reaching the mid-90s. The Source This weather report is based on information provided by the National Weather Service, including their official forecasts and statements. The details on temperature increases, fire weather warnings, and the cause of the heat wave are all directly attributed to the agency. Solve the daily Crossword
