Japan experienced record-breaking heat, especially in the Kanto region in the east on July 29, due to very warm air flowing in from the tropics combined with the foehn effect caused by winds crossing over the mountains.

By 2 p.m., the highest temperature reached 41.0 degrees Celsius in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, marking the hottest day in Japan this year and just short of the highest-ever temperature of 41.1 recorded in the country.

Additionally, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees in five other locations, including 40.2 degrees in Hamamatsu City’s Tenryu area in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, eastern Japan.

The last time the temperature topped 40 degrees in a record six monitoring locations in a single day was on July 1, 2022. 

Heatstroke alerts were issued in 38 prefectures from Tohoku in northeastern Japan to Kyushu in southwestern Japan.