Warm season forecast: Summer temperatures will rise nationwide

2026/02/24 16:37

The Japan Meteorological Agency today (Tuesday), the 24th, announced the ``warm weather forecast,'' which provides an outlook on the weather for the summer (June to August).
This summer, temperatures will be high nationwide as the country is likely to be covered in warm air. Rainfall in the summer and during the rainy season is expected to be near normal across the country.



There is a possibility that an El Nino phenomenon will occur this summer, and sea surface temperatures are expected to rise in the eastern to central equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is also expected to be low in the southeastern part of the tropical Indian Ocean. For this reason, cumulonimbus clouds will be more likely to occur near the international date line in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and over the sea east of the Philippines, but less likely to occur near Indonesia.
As a result of these effects, upper-level westerly winds are expected to flow southerly than normal over the Eurasian continent, but slightly northerly than normal near Japan. Although the Tibetan anticyclone's overhang to the north is weak, its overhang near Japan is likely to be about normal. Additionally, the Pacific anticyclone's overhang near Honshu will be somewhat strong, and its overhang south of Japan will be somewhat weak.
For this reason, the area around Japan is expected to be covered in warm air.



The average temperature in summer (June to August) is expected to be high nationwide.
Last summer was the third consecutive year of record high temperatures, breaking the record for the highest temperature in Japan. This summer is likely to be extremely hot again, so we need to be careful.

Precipitation is expected to be about normal in both summer (June to August) and the rainy season (June to July in northern, eastern and western Japan, and May to June in Okinawa and Amami).
Last year, the rainy season ended in June in many places, and eastern Japan experienced a record amount of sunshine. This year is likely to be about normal, but we need to be careful as there is a risk of heavy rain during the rainy season when the seasonal rain front becomes more active. Please check the latest weather information and prepare for heavy rain disasters.

2nd Cherry Blossom Bloom Forecast: Expected blooming to start from Tokyo in eastern Japan and Kochi in western Japan

2026/02/24 08:12

Our company Sunny Spot is pleased to announce the second cherry blossom bloom forecast. Please use this information to plan cherry blossom viewing from next March onwards.



From December of last year to mid-January of this year, we experienced a winter-like atmospheric pressure pattern intermittently. Especially after mid-January, a strong cold wave brought severe cold to the entire country, and by early February, it snowed in some places in the Kanto region. For this reason, it is thought that the dormancy break necessary for the cherry blossoms to bloom has been sufficient.

In March, average temperatures in western Japan are expected to be around normal or slightly higher than normal. In eastern Japan, temperatures are expected to remain around normal to above normal. In northern Japan, temperatures are expected to be higher than normal from March to April.

For this reason, cherry blossoms will bloom earlier than normal in many places in northern Japan in 2026. In areas west of the Kanto region, weather is expected to be at or slightly earlier than normal in many places.



In eastern Japan, cherry blossoms are expected to start blooming from Tokyo, and at our Sunny Spot, we expect them to start blooming around March 21st. In western Japan, blooming is expected to begin around March 20th in Kochi, Shikoku, around March 21st in Fukuoka, and around March 26th in Osaka.

Blooming will progress in Hokuriku in early April, and the cherry blossom front will gradually move northward. The expected flowering date in Niigata is around April 6th, and in Sendai around April 4th. In Hokkaido, the flowers are expected to start blooming in Hakodate around April 20th.

In many places from western to eastern Japan, the flowers reach full bloom approximately one week after flowering. Many places are likely to have their best time to see them, around the time of entrance ceremonies and the start of new life in early April.
In northern Japan, the period from flowering to full bloom is short, and the time of full bloom is likely to be earlier than normal in many places.

After the holidays, the weather will go downhill from the west. Tomorrow, the 25th (Wednesday), there will be heavy rain over a wide area.

2026/02/24 07:21

Today, the 24th (Tuesday), the end of the holidays, a front and a low pressure system above the front are expected to gradually approach Honshu from the west.

In Hokkaido, there are places where it snows from morning until noon, and in northern Hokkaido, there are likely to be snowstorms. Please be aware of deteriorating outlook. The snow will gradually stop in many places.



Meanwhile, rain clouds are expected to gradually develop from the East China Sea. In western Japan, it will start raining in the afternoon, and there will be some places with thunder. Parts of Kyushu, including Nagasaki Prefecture, may experience heavy rain of more than 30mm per hour.
It is likely that showers will occur in places from the Tokai region to the Tohoku region late at night. It might be a good idea to bring an umbrella with you in case you get home late. In the northern Tohoku region, snow will fall in some places tonight, including Aomori and Akita prefectures.



Tomorrow, the 25th (Wednesday), the area of rain is expected to spread further from Tohoku to Kyushu. There will be heavy rain mainly from western Japan to the Pacific side of eastern Japan, and there will be heavy rain with localized thunderstorms. In western Japan, the area of rain is likely to gradually narrow into the afternoon, but from the Kanto region to the Tokai region, it is expected to continue raining for a long time until the new date.

From western Japan to the Pacific Ocean side of Tohoku, areas that have not had much rain in the past have experienced heavy rain for the first time in a while, and it looks like it will be a blessing. However, you will need to be careful about how the rain falls, as the rain will become heavier with localized thunderstorms.
In addition, temperatures will continue to be higher than normal, and snow melting will continue in areas with heavy snowfall. Please be careful of avalanches, falling snow from roofs, and deteriorating road conditions.

On the Emperor's birthday, temperatures drop mainly on the Sea of Japan side; Kanto is warm and Tokyo is as cheerful as early May.

2026/02/23 07:18

Yesterday (22nd), warm air from the south flowed into the Japanese archipelago, causing temperatures to rise across the country. In Kyushu, some places other than islands such as Okinawa experienced summer days for the first time in the country this season.



Today, the 23rd (Monday), as a cold front will pass, winds will blow from the north in many places, and temperatures will drop in many places compared to the previous day. Although many places will be warmer than normal, it will likely be a day with a large temperature difference from the previous day. On the other hand, the Kanto region is warm due to the wind blowing from the south, and in central Tokyo it is as warm as early May, making it unseasonably sunny. You can spend the day without needing a jacket.

The predicted maximum temperature is Sapporo: 5c, Sendai: 15c, Tokyo: 22c, Nagoya: 18c, Kanazawa: 12c, Osaka: 18c, Kochi: 21c, Fukuoka: 14c.

In addition to the temperature difference from the previous day, which was unseasonably warm except in the Kanto region, the temperature difference throughout the day will also be large. Please take care of your health by choosing clothes that are easy to adjust.

Weather for today, the 23rd (Monday): Thunderstorm warning for northern and eastern Japan, mainly in the morning; many places will be sunny in the afternoon

2026/02/23 06:27

Today, the 23rd (Monday), the last day of the three-day holiday, a developed low pressure system is expected to pass near Sakhalin. There will be some rain in the morning as the front extending from the low pressure system passes through northern and eastern Japan.



In Hokkaido, it will rain and snow mainly on the Sea of Japan side. The wind is strong and there are some places, especially along the coast, where the rain can hit the ground sideways, so you need to be careful. Please be aware of changes in road conditions as the snow will spread over the area at night.

From Tohoku to Kinki, there will be some areas of rain until the morning due to the passing of the front. The rain will be strong with localized thunderstorms, so be careful of lightning strikes and gusts of wind. The weather will gradually improve by the afternoon.

There will be no major weather changes in western Japan, and the sunshine will make it a good day to go out. It looks like it will be a comfortable experience.

Be careful of spring weather and yellow sand in the run up to the Emperor's birthday tomorrow, the 23rd.

2026/02/22 13:15

The center of high pressure has shifted far east of Japan, and a low pressure system that is developing in northeast China is moving northeast. Today, the 22nd (Sunday), a cold front extending from a low pressure system will move eastward across the Sea of Japan, and is expected to pass from western Japan to northern Japan until tomorrow the 23rd (Monday, holiday).
In the vicinity of Japan, southerly winds will strengthen over a wide area today, the 22nd (Sunday), and will shift to westerly winds after the cold front passes through tomorrow, the 23rd (Monday, holiday).



Today, warm southerly winds blowing toward a wide area of low pressure will strengthen near Japan. It seems that there are some areas where the ``first spring'' blows. This season, ``Spring Ichiban'' has already been observed in the Hokuriku region on February 18th.

``Haru Ichiban'' refers to the warm, strong wind from the south that blows for the first time between the first day of spring and the vernal equinox. The conditions for announcements vary slightly depending on the region, but include the presence of a low pressure system in the Sea of Japan, rising temperatures, and standards for wind speed (8 m/s or higher, etc.). If these conditions are met, "Haru Ichiban" will be announced in the Hokuriku-Kyushu region.

``Haru Ichiban'' makes you think of the arrival of spring, but it also means strong winds bringing spring storms. When the wind speed reaches 10 m/s, it becomes difficult to walk toward the wind, and you start to feel like you are being swept away by a crosswind while driving. Please be careful of falls, falls, accidents caused by falling objects, and avalanches caused by rising temperatures.



After that, from the evening of today, the 22nd (Sunday), the wind will change from the west due to the passage of a cold front. Yellow sand is expected to fly over a wide area in western Japan. Please be careful of yellow sand until tomorrow the 23rd (Monday, public holiday).



In the Kyushu, Chugoku, and Kinki regions, visibility (horizontal line-of-sight distance) is expected to be less than 10 kilometers, and in some places visibility is expected to be less than 5 kilometers.
When the visibility is less than 10 kilometers, the scenery becomes hazy and hazy. If the visibility is less than 5 kilometers, visibility may become poor and traffic may be disrupted.
Outdoors may be affected by yellow dust in some places, so please take precautions.
Also, pollen is expected to scatter in western Japan, so please take precautions by wearing masks and glasses. You may also consider drying your laundry indoors.

Western Japan and Eastern Japan: Be careful of lightning, strong gusts, and sudden heavy rain until the 23rd

2026/02/22 09:18

There is a low pressure system on the continent that is moving northeast.
From tomorrow, the 23rd, a low pressure system near the Korean Peninsula is expected to develop along with a front as it moves northeast from the Sea of Japan to the vicinity of Primorye, and a cold front extending from the low pressure system is expected to pass from western Japan to northern Japan.
Atmospheric conditions will be very unstable in western and eastern Japan due to the influence of warm, humid air flowing toward the front and low pressure system.







In western and eastern Japan, please be careful of severe gusts of wind and sudden heavy rain, including lightning strikes and tornadoes, through the 23rd.

There's still time for the three-day holiday! Mercury is difficult to observe close to the sun. Opportunity to observe it away from the sun! What's the weather like [Celestial show]

2026/02/21 13:12

#Mercury is difficult to observe close to the sun Opportunity to observe it away from the sun
Mercury is the planet that orbits closest to the sun in the solar system.
It is one of the celestial bodies that is difficult to observe from Earth because it is always close to the sun.
Actually, yesterday, the 20th (Friday), Mercury became the furthest point to the east from the Sun, reaching its "maximum eastern elongation."
Mercury, which can be seen low in the western sky in the evening, appears to be a little farther away from the Sun when it reaches its maximum eastern elongation, so there is a good chance to observe it.



#There's still time for the three-day holiday!! Find Mercury in the evening west sky!
During this three-day weekend, Mercury's altitude will exceed 10 degrees 30 minutes after sunset, making it easier to spot than usual.
It's a good idea to look for it with binoculars when the western sky is clear. It's so bright at magnitude -0.4 that it can be seen with the naked eye if you know its location.
Over time, Mercury moves lower in the sky and eventually sinks.
Start looking for it 30 minutes after sunset, and the altitude 45 minutes after sunset will be quite low at about 8 degrees, but there is still a chance to observe it, so it is best to observe it within an hour.

#Sunset in Tokyo
21st (Saturday) 5:28pm
22nd (Sunday) 5:29pm
23rd (Monday) 5:30pm

#Let's look for Saturn and Venus as landmarks
At this time of year, Saturn can also be seen at a slightly higher position in the western sky than Mercury.
Venus is located lower than Mercury and will set first, but it shines quite brightly and can be seen from a place where you can see close to the horizon.
If you can't find Mercury, you can try looking for Saturn or Venus.

#Can you observe it What is the weather like for the three-day weekend



Today, the 21st (Saturday), high pressure will move eastward over the south of Japan, clouds will gradually increase over the Nansei Islands, and there will be some places where it will rain from the evening onwards.
Observing Mercury may be difficult.
A low pressure system will remain in the eastern Kanto region, and clouds will likely spread over the coastal areas of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures.
Tohoku and Hokkaido on the Sea of Japan side, there seems to be a chance to observe it through the gaps in the clouds.
and others will look perfect.
Tomorrow, the 22nd (Sunday), a front is expected to extend into the East China Sea, and another front is expected to extend from the Sea of Japan to western Japan.
Clouds will gradually increase from Okinawa to western Japan and the Tokai region, and there will be places where it will start to rain.
Unfortunately, the sky looks like it will be difficult to observe.
There will be more clouds in northern Japan at night.



The day after tomorrow, the 23rd (Monday), western Japan is expected to be clear and have a chance of observation.
During the day, a front will move eastward near Honshu in eastern and northern Japan, and rain and winds will become stronger in eastern and northern Japan as the front passes through.
In eastern Japan, the clouds will clear in the evening, and you may be able to observe it.
After the front passes, cold air will flow in and Hokkaido is expected to turn to snow.
Unfortunately, the skies in northern Japan will be unfavorable for observation, and the wind will blow strongly, so please be on guard against heavy snowstorms on the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido.

After the three-day weekend, low pressure systems and fronts are likely to pass through, and periodic weather changes bring blessings of rain to areas on the Pacific side.

2026/02/21 08:06

After the three-day weekend, fronts and low pressure systems will frequently pass near Honshu, and the weather will change in short cycles.

On the 22nd and 23rd, the latter half of the three-day weekend, a low pressure system will develop and advance over the continent, and a front extending from the low pressure system will move south near Honshu.
On the 22nd (Sunday), the weather will turn downhill from the west, and on the 23rd (Monday), it will rain from northern Japan to Hokuriku, the Tokai region, and other areas, and there are likely to be some places where the rain will become heavier, accompanied by thunder. After the front passes, cold air will flow in and turn into snow in Hokkaido. The wind will also be strong, so please be careful of poor visibility due to the blizzard.



From the 24th (Tuesday) after the holidays, fronts and low pressure systems are expected to easily pass near Honshu. It will rain in western Japan on the 24th (Tuesday), and rain will spread across the country on the 25th (Wednesday). A low pressure system accompanied by a front is expected to approach Honshu around the 27th or 28th of the month, and the weather will change in short cycles. The rain is likely to be a boon for areas on the Pacific side of western Japan, eastern Japan, and Tohoku, where light rainfall continues.

Towards the latter half of the three-day weekend, the weather will suddenly become warmer like spring. On the 22nd (Sunday), it is expected that in some places it will be as warm as late April to May, and even after the three-day holiday, it is likely that the temperature will continue to be as warm as March to April. In areas with heavy snowfall, the snow may melt rapidly, so please be careful of avalanches.
Also, as the weather becomes sunny and the temperature rises, the amount of pollen scattered increases, and winds are expected to become stronger nationwide from the 22nd to the 23rd, so caution is required.
After the three-day weekend, there will be periodic weather changes, and pollen will be more likely to scatter after the rain. If you are sensitive, please take proper precautions.

Weather forecast for three-day weekend: Warm spring weather nationwide; Be careful of strong winds, cedar pollen, and yellow dust during the second half of the holiday

2026/02/20 21:58

During the three-day holiday period from the 21st (Saturday) to the 23rd (Monday), it will be warm throughout the country, as if spring has already arrived. However, it is likely that some areas will gradually be affected by fronts and low pressure systems towards the latter half of the holidays.



Tomorrow, the 21st (Saturday), the area around Honshu is expected to be widely covered by high pressure. It will be stable and sunny in many areas, and there will be no major weather disturbances. The maximum daytime temperature will rise to around 10 C in many places in northern Japan, with the expected maximum temperature in Sapporo being 8 C and 11 C in Akita, which will be similar to early April.
In eastern and western Japan, the temperature will be around 15c, and the temperature is likely to rise even higher in some places tomorrow, the 22nd (Sunday). High temperatures are expected to reach over 20 degrees Celsius in places such as Osaka and Fukuoka. It will be warm enough to usher in spring nationwide.

In areas with heavy snowfall, rising temperatures can cause snow to melt rapidly. On slopes, be careful of avalanches, snow falling from roofs, and flooding of roads due to melting snow.

In the latter half of the holidays, moist air will flow into the Honshu region toward fronts and low pressure systems, and the weather will turn downward from the west. The day after tomorrow, the 22nd (Sunday), it is expected to rain in some places in Kyushu and Shikoku, and as the front approaches, the winds are expected to gradually become stronger. On the 23rd (Monday), there is a risk of rain and snow in northern Japan, Hokuriku, and other areas along the Sea of Japan, and there is a risk of rough weather in northern Japan until around the 24th.



On the 22nd and 23rd, the isobars near Honshu will be crowded, and westerly or southerly winds are expected to become stronger nationwide. There is a possibility that some places will announce the ``Spring Ichiban'' on the 22nd and 23rd (in Hokuriku, the Spring Ichiban will be announced on the 18th of this month).
As the temperature rises and the wind strengthens, cedar pollen will be easier to fly, and there is also the expectation that yellow sand will fly in from the continent. During the latter half of the holidays, please be careful of strong winds, worsening of allergic symptoms and respiratory diseases due to the effects of cedar pollen and yellow sand, and dirt on cars and laundry.