On August 2, the Sapporo Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency announced a summary of Hokkaido’s weather in July. Based on an index of 22 major points around Hokkaido, the average temperature was 2.8 degrees higher than normal, making it the hottest July since the collation of statistics began in 1946. Monthly precipitation too, was only 23% of that of normal years, the lowest in recorded history.
On August 2, a temperature of 35.0 degrees was observed in the town of Kamifurano in the Kamikawa region of central Hokkaido, extending the record number of continuous ‘extremely hot days’ of at least 35 degrees in Hokkaido, to ten. The heat and low levels of precipitation are expected to continue for the time being, and the Meteorological Agency is calling for caution with regard to heat stroke and crop management.

Until now, the largest difference between the average July temperature and that of normal years was 2.7 degrees in 1978, and the lowest precipitation was 34% of normal years, recorded in ‘76.

According to the Meteorological Agency, the record temperatures and low levels of precipitation in July were due to a high-pressure system in the Pacific Ocean protruding to the north, covering all regions of Hokkaido and resulting in an increase in the number of sunny days.