Record heat grips Japan, turns Vietnam into ‘pan on fire’

Japan logged two new heat records in a day on Tuesday, with the mercury hitting 41.6 degrees Celsius (106.8 degrees Fahrenheit) and then 41.8 degrees, the weather office said, warning temperatures might rise further still. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as climate change creates ever more erratic weather patterns, and Japan is no exception. The scorching temperatures in the city of Isesaki on Tuesday surpassed the previous record seen in the western Hyogo region of 41.2 degrees only last week. Japan’s summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equalling the level seen in 2023, followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago. Last week in tourist hotspot Kyoto, the mercury hit 40 degrees, the first time any of its observation points – the oldest opened in 1880, the newest in 2002 – had seen such a high, authorities said. Experts warn Japan’s beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate or sometimes not fully blossoming because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering. The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October. July was also the hottest since records began in 1898, the weather agency said on Friday, with the average monthly temperature 2.89 degrees above the 1991–2020 average. South Korea also saw its second-hottest July, with an average temperature of 27.1 degrees, according to the meteorological office, which has been collecting such data since 1973. The hottest July on record in South Korea was in 1994, when the average temperature reached 27.7 degrees. In Japan, some dams and paddies nationwide are experiencing a water shortage, with farmers complaining that the sizzling heat combined with the lack of rain is slowing rice cultivation. Precipitation in July was low over wide areas of Japan, with northern regions facing the Sea of Japan experiencing record low rainfall. The rainy season ended about three weeks earlier than usual in western regions of Japan, another record. Every summer, Japanese officials urge the public to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms to avoid heatstroke. The elderly in Japan – which has the world’s second-oldest population after Monaco – are particularly at risk. Vietnam wilts Northern Vietnam is also sweltering under a blistering heatwave, with 17 places across seven provinces reporting record highs for the month of August and electricity demand spiking as people try to stay cool, authorities said on Tuesday. Temperatures peaked on Sunday and Monday across the densely populated Red River Delta region, a hugely important industrial and agricultural area, with the capital Hanoi experiencing its first-ever August day above 40 degrees. While Vietnam experiences hot weather every year, scientists say human-driven climate change is causing more intense weather patterns, including higher temperatures. The normally bustling streets of Hanoi were quieter on Tuesday as locals hid from the burning heat. Flower seller Ngo Thu Thuy told of her exhaustion from riding her flower bike in the heat. “I earn less as no one bothers to buy flowers in this heat. I still have to try my best to earn my living,” said Thuy, 38, who was covered from head to toe to protect herself from the sun. A construction worker who identified himself as Nam said “too many buildings and vehicles” have turned Hanoi into “a pan on fire” over the past two days. Records set in past heatwaves in 2021 and 2024 were broken at 17 weather stations around the north. One weather station in downtown Hanoi recorded a high of 40.3 degrees, beating the city’s previous August record of 39.8 degrees set in 2021. Outside Hanoi, stations in the provinces of Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Haiphong and Ninh Binh all reported record August highs. “The air humidity in Hanoi and the delta area on Monday was only up to 52 per cent, causing a distinct feeling of dryness and heat,” Vietnam’s top weather forecaster Nguyen Van Huong said in a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Vietnam’s electricity company EVN said consumption in Hanoi hit an all-time record at 1.28pm on Monday as residents sought to cool off with fans and air-conditioning. “I cannot imagine spending the night without air conditioning over the past few days,” office worker Dang Xuan Huong said. “It’s so strange that we are in August, and it is still burning hot.” But relief could be on the way – rain forecast for Tuesday night is expected to bring temperatures down.

Record heat grips Japan, turns Vietnam into ‘pan on fire’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The scorching temperatures have seen Japan’s cherry trees bloom earlier than usual while Vietnam has logged 17 new August records

The scorching temperatures have seen Japan’s cherry trees bloom earlier than usual while Vietnam has logged 17 new August records