Central Japan cities hit 40 C, officially marking first "kokushobi"
Baku, July 21, AZERTAC
Three cities in central Japan on Tuesday reached 40 C, officially marking the country's first "kokushobi," or "cruelly hot day," since the weather agency introduced the term earlier this year to warn the public of extreme heat, according to Kyodo.
As a high-pressure system covered much of the Japanese archipelago, Tajimi and Gujo in Gifu Prefecture recorded temperatures of 40.3 C and 40.0 C, respectively, while the mercury in Toyoda in Aichi Prefecture climbed to 40.1 C, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Coined in April, the term "kokushobi" refers to days when temperatures reach 40 C and is intended to more effectively alert the public to dangerous heat.
The agency said it expects temperatures to remain high in many parts of the country from Wednesday onward and urged the public to take precautions against heat-related illness.
Of the country's 914 observation points, 731 had recorded maximum temperatures of 30 C or higher as of 3 p.m., with 272 qualifying as "moshobi," which literally translates as "extremely hot day," excluding those separately classified as "kokushobi."
According to the agency, the high-pressure system began covering much of the country around Sunday, warming the air at both the surface and in the upper atmosphere and causing temperatures to rise.
Other areas that recorded temperatures close to 40 C included Nagoya, which reached 39.7 C, and Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture, which recorded 38.6 C, it said.
Other news in this section
