The Japan Meteorological Agency announced Sunday that the rainy season in the Shikoku region has ended [1].
The transition to the summer season affects agricultural planning and public safety across the region. The end of the rainy season, known as *tsuyu*, typically signals the arrival of higher temperatures and a shift in weather patterns that impact local infrastructure and tourism.
The announcement was issued on the morning of July 12 by the Takamatsu Local Meteorological Observatory [1]. According to the agency, the rainy season concluded five days earlier than the climatological average [2]. This determination was based on meteorological observations showing the presence of high pressure and clear skies, which met the agency's specific criteria for the season's end [3].
Data provided by the agency indicates that the rainy season lasted for 40 days [2]. While the end date arrived earlier than the average, it occurred 15 days later than the previous year [2].
Local officials and meteorologists said that the shift to high-pressure conditions has brought an immediate change in weather. The Japan Meteorological Agency said that the Shikoku region is now considered to have emerged from the rainy season [4].
Residents are advised to prepare for the subsequent increase in heat that typically follows the rainy season's conclusion. The Takamatsu Local Meteorological Observatory continues to monitor atmospheric pressure to provide updated forecasts for the remainder of the month [1].
“The rainy season in the Shikoku region has ended five days earlier than the climatological average.”
The variation in the timing of the rainy season's end, arriving earlier than the average but significantly later than the prior year, highlights the volatility of seasonal weather patterns in Japan. Such fluctuations can disrupt traditional farming cycles and influence the timing of summer heatwaves, which often follow the disappearance of the rainy season's cloud cover.
