Sizzling heat blankets Japan for another day, with Tuesday temperatures hitting dangerous levels above 35 degrees Celsius in the farthest north main island of Hokkaido. Scorching temperatures are expected again on Wednesday, with some areas possibly hitting 40 degrees.
School cancelled because of heat
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said a high-pressure system is covering areas near Japan, pushing up temperatures nationwide.
Daytime highs were expected to reach 37 and 36 degrees Celsius across vast swathes of the country from south to north. Kitami City in Hokkaido hit 36.4.
Sapporo marked 32.9 around noon.
Hokkaido students have yet to begin their summer vacation. But the expected scorching weather throughout Hokkaido forced some schools to close or be dismissed earlier than usual on Tuesday.
The Hokkaido Board of Education announced on Tuesday morning that roughly a dozen schools in the towns of Nakashibetsu and Shibetsu, in northeastern Hokkaido, would close for the day.
Nakashibetsu schools don’t have air conditioning in the classrooms, prompting their decision, the town said.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology says only 82.6% of Hokkaido’s elementary and junior high schools had air conditioning as of September, 2024.
Animals enjoy ice
To provide coolness in the intense Hokkaido heat, the Asahiyama Zoo gave some animals large blocks of ice with honey frozen inside.
A baby monkey chittered as it tried to dig into an ice block. Red pandas relished fresh fruit while sitting on ice.
A girl watches animals enjoy the ice cubes.
A girl visiting from Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo said a polar bear playing with the ice was cute.
Scorching weather in Kyushu as well
The heat extended across Japan to the farthest west main island of Kyushu.
Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita Prefecture set up a pool for its monkeys earlier this month. The special pool is 4.4 meters long, 2.4 meters wide and 30 centimeters deep.
Monkeys don’t like heat, the zoo says. The monkeys try to conserve energy by lazing around by the pool and playing in it.
Heat stress index map
Heatstroke alerts have been issued across Japan, including in Hokkaido, Kyushu and Tokyo.
People are advised to use air conditioners appropriately, consume adequate amounts of water and salt, and take breaks frequently during outdoor activities.
Click here to check the heat stress index, or WBGT, which measures how harmful the temperature is to the human body, in your area.
Heatstroke index for Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN
Unstable weather expected in eastern Japan
Atmospheric conditions are forecast to become extremely unstable due to rising temperatures and an approaching cold air mass. Heavy rain or thunderstorms may hit those areas.
Weather may change suddenly. Officials urge people to be on the alert for flooding in low-lying areas, mudslides and swollen rivers, as well as lightning strikes, tornadoes and hail.
Watch video 1:38
Excerpt from NEWSLINE ASIA 24 on July 22
AloJapan.com