Tropical Storm “Maria” made landfall in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture at 08:30 local time (LT) on Monday, August 12, 2024, bringing record-breaking rainfall to the affected regions.
Severe Tropical Storm “Maria” is set to make landfall in Miyagi Prefecture on August 12, 2024, making it only the second recorded cyclone to strike the region since 1951, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Maria is the 5th named storm of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued extreme heat warnings on July 7, 2024, after parts of Japan broke record heat levels. On the same day, Shizuoka touched 40 °C (104 °F), marking its highest recorded temperature since records began in 1940. The heatwave has led to four deaths and over 2 000 hospitalizations.
Many heat records have been shattered in northern Japan with the start of the new week.
A large waterspout made landfall on the island of Ie in Japan’s Okinawa on March 5, 2024, damaging several buildings.
Heavy snowfall hit Japan’s capital, Tokyo (population 14 million), on Monday, February 5, 2024, injuring more than 130 people and causing traffic chaos. This is the first significant snowfall to hit Tokyo since February 2022 and the city’s first heavy snowfall warning this year.
A powerful M7.6 earthquake centered in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on January 1, 2024, was followed by intense snowfall a week later, creating very hard conditions for survivors and complicating rescue efforts. On January 8, authorities reported 161 fatalities caused by the earthquake and 305 people missing.
A severe snowstorm warning has been issued for northern Japan, with heavy snowfall, strong winds, and rough seas forecast through at least December 19, 2023, leading to hazardous travel conditions.
Japan observed its hottest November day on record on November 3, 2023, with over 300 weather stations reporting record-breaking temperatures for this time of year.
Japan experienced its warmest September on record in 2023, with a national monthly temperature that was 2.66 °C (4.79 °F) higher than the standard. The record-breaking temperatures were particularly pronounced in the eastern and western regions of the country.
