Japan swelters in blazing temperatures
(Mainichi Japan)
TOKYO -- Two cities in central and southwestern Japan recorded high temperatures of 36.7 degrees Celsius -- the highest temperature recorded in the country this year -- as a high-pressure system enveloped wide areas of the archipelago on Aug. 5.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasts extreme heat to continue on Aug. 6, due to the high-pressure system, and calls for cautionary measures against heatstroke.
On Aug. 5, temperatures rose to 36.7 C in the central Japan city of Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture, and the southwestern Japan city of Hita, Oita Prefecture, breaking the previous record of 36.6 C registered in the southwestern Japan city of Miyazaki.
The JMA recorded on this day sweltering highs of 30 C or higher in 710 locations -- the highest number so far this year -- accounting for over 70% of all observation points.
Maximum temperatures also rose to 35 C or higher in 67 locations including the city of Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, and the central Japan city of Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, again marking the highest number of locations this year.
People were also seen walking under the blazing sun while wearing masks in the heart of Tokyo.
(Japanese original by Yoshitake Matsuura, City News Department)
