Japan hits new yearly high temperature with 40.6°C amid 'extreme heat' days

Japan is grappling with intense heat, recording its second consecutive day of 'extreme heat' with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

On Tuesday afternoon, Kuwana city in Mie Prefecture registered a scorching 40.6°C (105.1°F). This extreme temperature not only marks a new high for the year but also surpasses the 40.3°C (104.5°F) recorded in Tajimi city, Gifu Prefecture, on Monday.

Several other locations also experienced extreme heat, with Toyota city in Aichi Prefecture and Gujo city in Gifu Prefecture reaching 40.1°C and 40.0°C respectively. These readings underscore the severity of the ongoing heatwave affecting the country.

The Japan Meteorological Agency officially began classifying days with temperatures of 40°C or higher as 'extreme heat days' in April. The recent consecutive days of such extreme temperatures highlight the persistent and severe nature of the current weather conditions.