Sunny weather due to a high pressure system has prevailed across much of Japan, pushing temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius in many areas on Saturday. But meteorologists are forecasting heavy rain for the western region of Kyushu and elsewhere over the next few days.
Daytime highs reached 32.9 degrees in Date City in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima and 32.6 in Ueda City in the central prefecture of Nagano. In central Tokyo, the temperature rose close to 30.
The Meteorological Agency says temperatures will also exceed 30 degrees on Sunday. Day-time highs will reach 32 in the Yaeyama region in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa and 31 in Fukushima City. A heatstroke alert is in place for Yaeyama.
People are advised to take measures to prevent heatstroke, such as using air conditioners and consuming lots of water and adequate amounts of salt.
Meanwhile, a seasonal rain front currently situated just south of Kyushu will start to move north on Sunday. It will stay over the region through around Tuesday.
The front will cause unstable conditions in Kyushu, bringing thunderstorms.
Rainfall for the 24-hour period through Sunday evening could total 120 millimeters in southern Kyushu. Precipitation for the 24-hour period through Monday evening could total 150 millimeters in northern and southern Kyushu.
More rain could fall as the front is expected to remain stationary over western and eastern Japan from Wednesday onwards.
Weather officials are calling on people to exercise caution against mudslides, swollen rivers and floods.
AloJapan.com