Intense heat expected to continue

People walk in front of an electric bulletin board showing fine weather in various cities, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday morning. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

A high atmospheric pressure system continues to cover the Japanese archipelago, driving up temperatures across the country Saturday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a high temperature alert with a high of 35 C or above forecast for 39 prefectures, and called for the use of air conditioning and other cooling devices.

According to the agency, the temperature in the afternoon reached 38.2 C in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, and Tottori, and 38.1 C in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture.

Women walk with parasols and one with a towel on her head under intense sunshine in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on Saturday morning. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Also, 38 C was reached in another three places: Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture; Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture; and Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture. The mercury rose to 34.9 C in central Tokyo.

In flood-hit areas of western Japan, the weather is also severely hot.

The intense heat is expected to continue at least until the end of this month. The agency warned of heatstroke and urged the public to limit rises in body temperature by avoiding long periods of sun exposure.

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