A seasonal rain front, which caused record downpours in Kyushu and many other regions, hovered near the sea south of Honshu on Wednesday, bringing rainy or cloudy weather to areas nationwide.
Rain has continued for 13 consecutive days from July 3, exceeding the 11 days of heavy precipitation that hit western Japan two years ago.
"I don't remember [a front lingering for such a lengthy period]," said Meteorological Agency Director-General Yasuo Sekita at a regular press conference.
According to the agency, the rain front appeared to be sandwiched between a Pacific anticyclone in the sea east of Japan, and westerly winds over the country on Wednesday.
The Pacific anticyclone, which usually moves fronts northward, has stayed in more or less the same position, indicating the system is stationary.
The front is expected to remain fixed, and more heavy rain is in the forecast for Saturday. Starting around Monday, the Pacific anticyclone is expected to intensify in strength, and clear skies are in the forecast for Kyushu and other areas of western Japan.
"We consider it very significant that the amount of rainfall exceeded our forecast. We didn't anticipate a situation more severe than the issuing of a heavy rain warning, and that's a reflection of our lack of capabilities," Sekita said, reiterating his intention to improve the accuracy forecasts of heavy rain.
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