Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya record latest-ever 30C days as warm air hits Japan on Oct 21
In short
On 21 October, central Tokyo reached 30.3C, Osaka 31.2C, Nagoya 31.4C and Kyoto 30.7C, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency as reported by Jiji Press. Each was the latest 30C-or-higher day in its statistics. Temperatures were expected to fall from the evening as a cold front passed.
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Temperatures in eastern and western Japan rose on 21 October, and the Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the latest 30C-or-higher day in the statistics for several major cities. Jiji Press reported 30.3C in central Tokyo (Chiyoda ward), 31.2C in Osaka, 31.4C in Nagoya and 30.7C in Kyoto. It said all four were the latest such days on record. [ 34 ]
Osaka city was the first major city to pass 30C. TBS NEWS DIG reported 30.0C at 9:46 a.m. Yomiuri Shimbun said the previous latest date was 20 October 1933, so the record was broken after 93 years. According to the agency, Sakai city reached 30.5C and Yao city 30.2C by 10 a.m. Mainichi Shimbun said Yao's reading was the latest 30C day on record in Osaka prefecture. [ 7 , 9 , 12 ]
Central Tokyo followed in the early afternoon, with 30.3C recorded just after 1 p.m. Earlier, Livedoor News had reported 29.8C at around 11 a.m. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun said Nagoya's Chikusa ward and Osaka's Chuo ward also saw the latest 30C days on record. Jiji Press said 157 of 914 observation points, nearly one fifth, reached 30C or above as of 5 p.m. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported 33.6C in Hyuga, Miyazaki prefecture, and 33.5C in Kofu. [ 10 , 18 , 23 , 25 , 34 ]
The agency said warm air that had circled the edge of the Pacific high south of Japan flowed toward a low-pressure system in the Sea of Japan, pushing temperatures up, and sunshine through gaps in cloud added to the effect. TBS NEWS DIG said a typhoon to the south and a strong summer high-pressure system also drew air about 10 degrees above normal toward Japan. [ 2 , 18 ]
The warmth was expected to be short-lived. Nippon TV News said a cold front would pass on 21 October, bringing thunderstorms in places from the evening and lower temperatures at night, and forecast autumn sunshine and 23C in Osaka on 22 October. An earlier Yahoo! News Japan forecast said Tokyo would stay below 20C on 24 October and urged readers to look after their health during the temperature swings. [ 1 , 11 ]
Coverage also looked ahead to Typhoon No. 30. TBS NEWS DIG said it might affect Honshu at the weekend and later raised the possibility of it crossing Japan, while Nippon TV News said it might approach Okinawa late in the week. [ 2 , 16 , 27 ]
Why it matters
The outlets describe the heat as unusual for late October and warn of strain on health from large day-to-day temperature swings. Outlets also say Typhoon No. 30 may affect Japan, but its path is not settled in the coverage.
Key facts
- The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded 30.3C in central Tokyo (Chiyoda ward), 31.2C in Osaka, 31.4C in Nagoya and 30.7C in Kyoto; Jiji Press reported all four as the latest 30C-or-higher day in the statistics. [ 34 ]
- Osaka city reached 30.0C at 9:46 a.m., breaking the previous latest date of 20 October 1933, 93 years earlier. [ 9 , 11 , 12 ]
- Central Tokyo recorded 30.3C just after 1 p.m., which TBS NEWS DIG reported as the latest 30C-or-higher day in its statistics. [ 23 , 25 ]
- Jiji Press reported 157 of 914 observation points reached 30C or above as of 5 p.m., nearly one fifth of the total. [ 34 ]
- Miyazaki's Hyuga city recorded 33.6C and Kofu 33.5C, according to Nishi-Nippon Shimbun. [ 18 ]
- Warm air flowing from the south toward a low-pressure system in the Sea of Japan pushed temperatures up. [ 11 , 18 , 34 ]
- A cold front was due to pass on 21 October, bringing thunderstorms from the evening and lower temperatures; Osaka was forecast to reach 23C on 22 October. [ 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Central Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto recorded the latest 30C-or-higher day in their statistics on 21 October. [ 25 , 26 , 34 ]
- Osaka city reached 30.0C in the morning, breaking the 1933 record for the latest 30C day. [ 9 , 11 , 12 ]
- Central Tokyo recorded 30.3C in the early afternoon. [ 23 , 25 , 32 ]
- 157 observation points nationwide reached 30C or above. [ 34 , 36 ]
- Warm air from the south flowing toward a low-pressure system caused the heat. [ 11 , 18 , 34 ]
Still unclear
- Where Typhoon No. 30 will go. TBS NEWS DIG said on 20 October it may affect Honshu at the weekend and later said it could cross Japan; Nippon TV News said it may approach Okinawa late in the week.
- The number of points that reached 30C or above. Mainichi Shimbun reported 155 points at 4:32 p.m., while Jiji Press and Mainichi Shimbun later reported 157.
- Osaka's highest temperature. Livedoor News gave 30.8C at 11:14 a.m., while Nippon TV News and Jiji Press later gave 31.2C.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 20 October, Yahoo! News Japan carried a forecast of up to 30C in central Tokyo for 21 October. [ 1 ]
- Osaka city recorded 30.0C, the latest 30C day in its statistics. [ 9 ]
- Central Tokyo recorded 30.3C just after 1 p.m. [ 23 , 25 ]
- 157 observation points had reached 30C or above, according to Jiji Press. [ 34 ]
- Jiji Press published the figures for Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto and central Tokyo, all the latest 30C days in the statistics. [ 34 ]