Japan's average temperature in 2024 is likely to hit a record high for the second consecutive year, preliminary figures released by the weather agency showed Wednesday.
The average temperature through November was 1.64 C warmer than the annual average for the 30-year period until 2020, hitting the highest level since the agency started releasing data in 1898 and higher than last year's, which exceeded the average by 1.29 C.
The high temperatures were due to warm air being brought in by westerlies that traveled further north than usual in addition to the effects of global warming, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
"It can be said that temperatures were abnormally high," a weather agency official said.
Japan's temperatures have kept rising in recent years, with the five years between 2019 and 2023 dominating the top five hottest years.
In the long term, the annual average temperature has risen 1.35 C every 100 years, the agency said.
The average surface temperature of the seas around Japan was also 1.46 C higher than the annual average as of late November, surpassing a record high marked in 2023 since comparable data became available in 1908.
© KYODO
20 Comments
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DanteKH
Yes, and next year will be hotter and next next year even hotter and so on.
The_Beagle
Variations in weather are a constant and ongoing thing.
JeffLee
In my area of Tokyo, I keep track of public greenery where the environment is more shaded and cooler than elsewhere. Over the last decade, there has been a gradual and consistent reduction in the cool areas due to deliberate human actions, like redevelopment. Japan's authorities need to acknowledge their responsibility for creating the heat island.
fallaffel
Yes, you're right. But... the temperature variation is basically only in one direction over the last 100+ years. Up!
nickybutt
I want to leave Japan from June to September for 4 months. I am quite happy here from October to May. My retirement plan is live in Japan for 8 months and somewhere cooler for 4 months a year while I am still able.
kurisupisu
It was so mild yesterday that I ate lunch out in a friend’s garden-the papaya tree was doing ok too…
dobre vam zajebava
in our place we have had just average weather nothing or too hot or too cold.
this morning little snow and little below zero...
shogun36
Japan set to record-high average temperature in 2025, 3rd year in row
Japan set to record-high average temperature in 2026, 4th year in row
Finished your headlines for the next two years.
Some dude
If temperatures continue to rise and the consequences are bad, it is nothing that we don't deserve as a species. Our hubris, mixed with our delight in being ignorant and our disdain for anything intellectual, will be our downfall, and we will have earned it.
grc
I look forward to the World Athletics Federation Games in Tokyo this coming August
tora
Think food security. Look forward to growing grapes all year round.
TaiwanIsNotChina
People can't live on grapes, nor are we going to be shipping free bottle water all over the world.
wallace
Water will be the cause of future wars. I won't be here but my children and grandchildren will be.
Bad Haircut
It's cooling back down again to the long-term average, definitely cooler than last year's mild winter. But it's best to be scared and alarmed just in case.
falseflagsteve
Well, it was very hot this summer wasn’t it? Mind you there were still lovely days October through to 'November when it was nice enough for us to go for family picnics. There’s always an upside to everything like this I guess.
iron man
Wallace. I am a geology buff not anthropology. but previous societies with amazing water supply systems were overcome ,'cos water supplies became insufficient for the population growth. I acknowledge your concern about your offspring, good of you. It depends on our they react to the changes the last 3? generations have wreaked upon the planet?
Jonathan Prin
If warmer, less energy consumption in winter.
The first and main teason for warmer temperatures is heat island effect, which in Japan is terrible.
Just go and walk into a forest and you will see the difference.
Guess what does bringing of huge quantities of energy which ultimately transforms into heat in cities because of A/C systems do ?
I have no doubt the warmer climate will be a net positive for mankind in the long run, meaning more energy at disposal.
It does not mean we should no fight chemical pollution leading to aberration. And Japan has not been very good at it (ex : Minamata, plastic emissions/recycling...).
TaiwanIsNotChina
And the large number of places made uninhabitable is just tough luck?
Wasabi
Your opinion vs the scientific world.
fallaffel
Why are Arctic temperatures and sea temperatures increasing in the mid-ocean then? It must be Santa Claus and the Atlantans fault.