Tokyo records historic 35-day rain streak driven by El Niño and stalled fronts
Central Tokyo has experienced 35 consecutive days of rainfall, setting the longest continuous rainy streak since records began in 1886, reported local media citing Japan’s weather agency. Rains began on Aug. 27 and have continued daily as of Sept. 30. This spell breaks the previous record of 33 consecutive days of rainfall set in 2019, […]
Tokyo has witnessed an unprecedented 35-day rain streak, making it the longest continuous rainy period since records began in 1886, according to Japan's weather agency. The deluge commenced on August 27 and persisted until September 30, surpassing the previous record of 33 consecutive days set in 2019. While Tokyo usually experiences its rainiest months in June and July, this year's extended rainfall has been attributed to a combination of factors, including a stationary autumn rain front, typhoons, and low-pressure troughs.
September's rainfall reached an impressive 629 millimeters (24.8 inches) by September 28, roughly three times the typical monthly average and nearing the September record of 670.9 mm (26.4 inches) set in 1958. Meteorologists have linked the abnormal weather pattern to global climate drivers, notably El Niño, a warming of surface ocean temperatures in the Pacific.
Kyoda, an official at the Japan Meteorological Agency, explained that the unique weather map during this month is partly due to El Niño. The prolonged autumn rain fronts are staying longer than usual because a high-pressure system associated with the Pacific has remained stationary over the region. Although attributing a single event directly to climate change is challenging, a JMA report highlights the impact of climate change on such extreme weather events.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
