Published Aug. 16, 2020 7:15 PM | Updated Aug. 17, 2020 7:18 AM
After rounds of flooding rainfall devastated parts of Japan during the month of July, a change in the weather pattern has brought hot and dry conditions to the country. But restrictions from the ongoing pandemic will make it difficult to find relief rom the heat.
The front, called the mei-yu front, was responsible for the heavy rains in July, and typically brings the rainy season to eastern China and Japan during the summer months. But for August, the front has shifted north, allowing for an area of high pressure to settle over southern Japan instead.
This high pressure brought with it the dog days of summer, which arrived just last week across much of Japan.
Southwesterly to westerly winds in this pattern will continue to help usher in higher temperatures across much of the country into the middle of the week. Winds blowing from the mountains into the valleys aided in in the building heat.
While occasional showers will keep eastern Japan a couple degrees cooler, the sweltering heat is expected to continue across the rest of the country into at least the middle of the week.
Temperatures from the Kyushu region to Kanto region are expected to remain about 3-9 degrees C (5-15 degrees F) above normal temperatures for the middle of August.
Normal high temperatures for this time of year in Fukuoka and Tokyo 32 C (89 F) and 31 C (87 F), respectively.
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The hottest temperature during this heat wave, so far was in city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture on Sunday, August 16, with a high of 40.9 C (105.6 F) in the afternoon, according to the Japan Times. As such, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued both heatstroke and high-temperature warnings Sunday.
The record highest temperature for the country was set in July of 2018 during the third week of brutal heat wave. The thermometer reached 41.1 C (106 F) in Kumagaya, located to the northwest of Tokyo, reported The Washington Post.
It was reported on Sunday that a total of 27 people have died in Tokyo from heat-related illnesses in the past week.
Normally residents and visitors would flock to the beaches in the sizzling heat, but many are closed in an effort to control the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Just 60 percent of the nations 1,156 beaches were opened up to the pubic this year.
People pack the Shonan Beach to cool off from scorching summer heat in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
In the Tokyo area, 44 beaches are still open, although most are located on offshore islands.
Without this cooling location for residents, many were left to look elsewhere for relief from the brutal heat.
Elderly residents and those with pre-existing medical conditions will be most susceptible to heat-related illnesses and should do their best to stay in an air-conditioned space, especially during the afternoon and early evening.
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Temperatures began to soar across the western and central portions of the country last week, with afternoon thermometers of 34-37 degrees C (93-97 degrees F) common across the area through the weekend.
Last week, Tuesday, August 11, was the hottest day of the heat wave as afternoon temperature reached 40.5 C (104.9 F) in the cities of Isesaki and Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture, located in central Japan. The Japan Times said this was the highest reading so far this year up until Sunday's temperature in Hamamatsu.
Hatoyama in Saitama Prefecture reached 40.2 C (104.4 C), and Tokyo recorded an afternoon high of 35 C (95 F).
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