Photo/Illutration Even in late November, people are seen walking around the Imperial Palace area in short sleeves in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward. (Hikaru Uchida)

Japan’s average temperature for this year is expected to be the highest since record-keeping began in 1898, weather officials said on Dec. 25.

As of late November, the average temperature was 1.64 degrees higher than the 1991 to 2020 average, surpassing the previous record of 1.29 degrees set in 2023.

The average sea surface temperature around the country in 2024 is also expected to hit its highest since those records began being kept in 1908. As of late November, it was 1.46 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 average, exceeding the previous record of 1.1 degrees set in 2023.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the highest average temperature on record was driven by global warming and a northward shift in westerlies from summer through autumn, resulting in more sunny days.

The summer months, from June to August, tied the record for the highest average temperature, while autumn, from September to November, set a new record.

Shotaro Tanaka, head of the JMA’s extreme weather information center, said he was surprised by the expectation that this year's temperatures will surpass even last year, which was described as “extreme weather,” saying, “I never expected it to rise this much.”

Tanaka said that higher temperatures lead to an increase in water vapor, which, in turn, raises the likelihood of heavy rainfall or snowfall.

“While there are year-to-year fluctuations, the influence of global warming and other factors continue to create conditions that make higher temperatures more likely,” he said.

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