By The Financial District
Jan 61 min
Japan experienced its hottest year on record in 2023, with the average temperature reaching the highest level since comparable data became available in 1898.
Japan has witnessed a trend of consistently high temperatures in recent years, with 2019 to 2023 ranking as the top five hottest years in recorded history.
Kyodo News reported recently that global warming and high atmospheric pressure systems contributed to the elevated mercury levels throughout the year, according to the weather agency.
The average temperature in 2023 was 1.29 degrees Celsius warmer than the mean temperature for the 30 years through 2020, surpassing the previous record set in 2020, which saw the mercury rise 0.65 degrees Celsius above average, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Japan has witnessed a trend of consistently high temperatures in recent years, with 2019 to 2023 ranking as the top five hottest years in recorded history. According to the agency, Japan observed record-high average temperatures in the spring, summer, and autumn of the last year.
On a monthly basis, March, July, August, and September set record highs.
In addition to climate change, a blanket of warm air from spring through autumn last year as westerlies traveled north, as well as the effects of high-pressure systems over the south of Japan, contributed to the high temperatures, the agency said.