Photo/Illutration Shotaro Tanaka, head of the Japan Meteorological Agency's abnormal weather information center, issues a forecast for the May-July period on April 23 in Tokyo. (Ryo Oyama)

Heat stroke warnings are starting early this year as the Japan Meteorological Agency on April 23 forecast higher temperatures than usual for the next three months, starting with the upcoming Golden Week period.

The JMA is calling on people to take heat stroke precautions in advance, as they are not yet accustomed to the summer heat.

The Golden Week holidays, which run from late April to early May, may see several hot days with temperatures hitting 25 degrees or higher.

There is a high chance of rain in the eastern and western parts of the country during the three-day holiday weekend starting April 27, but temperatures will be high nationwide, particularly on April 28, with sunny spells expected.

During the four-day weekend starting on May 3, sunny days are expected mainly in northern and eastern Japan.

The expected heat over the next three months will be partly caused by a shift in global atmospheric circulation patterns as the El Nino effect wanes, according to the JMA.

The JMA also said that if the conditions for high temperatures converge, this summer will be as hot as or even hotter than last summer, which was the hottest on record.

In preparation for another scorching summer, the JMA and the Environment Ministry launched Special Heat Stroke Alerts on April 24.

These come in addition to conventional Heat Stroke Alerts and will be issued when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), an indicator to show the risk of heat stroke, reaches 35 degrees across a prefecture.

While the WBGT has never reached 35 historically, Shotaro Tanaka, head of the JMA's abnormal weather information center, nevertheless urges caution.

“Make sure to follow the daily forecasts,” Tanaka said. “Heat can be dangerous enough even without a Special Heat Stroke Alert being issued.”

The JMA also warns of increased risks of heavy rainfall, particularly during the June to October period, when flooding is frequent.

Seasonal rain fronts are expected to be active, bringing normal to above-normal rainfall to western Japan and the Okinawa and Amami regions. Residents are urged to check their local hazard maps in advance for possible flood and landslide threats. 

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