With a seasonal rain front that stalled over the country and torrential rains mostly in the Kyushu region, July is likely to be a record-breaking month in terms of weather data.
The amount of rainfall was the highest ever recorded in 17 locations across 16 prefectures, including Tokyo, and the hours of sunlight are expected to be the shortest. For the first time ever, there were zero typhoons.
Among the locations where the highest amount of rainfall was recorded over the period of July 1 to 30, Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, had the largest amount at 1,342 millimeters, about four times the average for July. Saga City, with 1,086 millimeters, or 321% of the average, came in second. Record rainfall was recorded in the Kyushu region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
In other parts of the country, 768.5 millimeters of rainfall, or 297% of the average, were observed in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, and Yamagata City had 481.5 millimeters, or 307% of the average. The rainfall was two to four times the average level in areas from the Tohoku region to the Chugoku region, as well as the Shikoku region.
The hours of sunshine from July 1 to 30 were 39% of the average in eastern Japan and 51% in western Japan. Since relevant statistics began in 1946, the fewest hours of sunshine recorded in July had been 50% of the average in eastern Japan and 59% of the average in western Japan. It is certain this July will be less than that.
There are usually up to eight typhoons in July, but there were none this time. There was a possibility that a tropical depression in the South China Sea might turn into a typhoon on Friday night, but it did not develop.
The unusual weather this July is believed to have been partly caused by a prolonged stagnation of the seasonal rain front as westerlies continued to meander southward near the Korean Peninsula.
According to the agency, the meandering of the westerlies became more apparent around July 3 and continued until around July 14. This made it difficult for the rain front that formed along the south side of the westerlies to move out of the vicinity of Japan.
In addition, a Pacific high-pressure area in the south of Japan extended to the southwest near the Philippines this year, and large amounts of water vapor continued to flow into the Kyushu region through the edges of the high-pressure system. The extension of the high has also contributed to fewer typhoons.
A high-pressure area is expected to cover Honshu in August and the rainy season in eastern Japan is expected to end soon.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
