Western Japan is expected to experience the nation's first scorching day of the year as temperatures climb to 35°C [1].
This sudden heat spike highlights the volatility of early spring weather patterns in Japan, where extreme highs are followed by rapid cooling due to seasonal fronts.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast, reported by TBS NEWS DIG, said that a strong high-pressure system is pushing warm air northward [2]. In western Japan, cities such as Hita in Ōita and Toyooka in Hyōgo are forecast to reach maximum temperatures of 35°C [1].
Northern Japan is also seeing summer-like heat. Yamagata is expected to reach 33°C [1], while Morioka in Iwate is forecast to hit 30°C [1]. In the far north, Aomori is expected to reach 27°C [2], and Sapporo is forecast at 20°C [2]. However, temperatures remain lower in some areas, with Kushiro forecast at 11°C [2].
Reports on the first instance of high heat for the year vary. Some data indicates that Hita and Toyooka may mark the first scorching day [1], while other reports said that Hateruma in Okinawa already observed the first nationwide day exceeding 30°C [3].
The heat will be short-lived. A rainy-season front is expected to move through later in the week, which will cause temperatures to drop sharply across the country [2]. This transition will affect Tokyo and the Japan Sea coast, bringing wetter, and cooler conditions [2].
According to the forecast, the subsequent passage of the front will lead to a dramatic temperature shift, leaving some regions feeling cool even during midday hours [3].
“Western Japan is expected to experience the nation's first scorching day of the year”
The rapid oscillation between extreme heat and sharp cooling is characteristic of the transition into Japan's rainy season. The arrival of a 'scorching day' (defined as 35°C or higher) this early in the year suggests an aggressive northward push of warm air, which typically precedes the stabilization of the seasonal monsoon rains.
