Japan is sweltering under the hottest day in its worst heatwave for almost 150 years.
The blistering heat has drawn official warnings of a looming power shortage and led to calls for people to conserve energy where possible. But the government is still advising people to use air conditioning to avoid heatstroke as cases of hospitalisation rise with the heat.
Weather officials, on the other hand, have also warned that the heat is likely to continue in the coming days. Heatwaves became more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.
Experts revealed that the world is already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
The Temperature Rises
Tokyo charted temperatures above 35 degrees on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, for a fifth straight day, marking the worst documented streak of hot weather in June 2022, since records started in 1875. Meanwhile, the city of Isesaki, North-West of the capital, saw a record of 40.2C, which is said to be the highest temperature ever recorded in June 2022 for Japan.
Some social media users on Twitter lamented over the soaring temperatures, with one user noting that “It’s too hot outside and just being out … means I’m in a self-sauna. I want to bathe in the water”. Another user said, “I’ve been outside since morning, and almost melting from this extreme heat”. A third user said that it is “So hot that the fire alarm at our workplace got short-circuited”, with a clip of what appeared to be water sprinklers going off at a plant nursery.
A Change in the Rainy Phenomenon
Every June is usually considered the rainy season for Japan, but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) declared an end to the season for Tokyo and its surrounding areas on Monday, June 27, 2022. The announcement, which came 22 days earlier than normal, marked the earliest end to the rainy season since 1951.
Cases of heatstroke also spiked amidst the sweltering heat, as emergency services disclosed on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, that at least, 76 people were sent to the hospital.
On Monday, June 27, 2022, Japan’s government urged people in Tokyo and its surrounding area to use less electricity, as it warned that supplies will be strained as the country faces a heatwave.
Later on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, local officials issued calls for people to reduce their energy consumption amidst warnings of a power crunch. But it advised people to do so in moderation to lower the risk of heatstroke, especially amongst the country’s elderly.
Earlier Warning from Authorities
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry disclosed on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, that it expected the demand for power to be “severe” in the afternoon, local time.
In a statement on Sunday, June 26, 2022, the Ministry said that excess generating capacity for electricity was expected to drop to 3.7% on Monday, June 28, 2022, afternoon in Tokyo and eight surrounding prefectures. It views a buffer of 3% as necessary for a stable power supply. The government asked people to turn off unnecessary lights for three hours from 15:00 Tokyo time (07:00 BST) while “properly using air conditioning and hydrating during hot hours”.
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