By Abbas Nazil
Tokyo has recorded 34 consecutive days of rainfall, the longest such spell since weather records began in 1886, according to Japan’s weather agency.
The prolonged wet weather has brought repeated heavy downpours and flooding across the Japanese capital and surrounding areas, while climate change and the El Niño phenomenon are contributing to unusual weather patterns.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the latest streak surpassed the previous record of 33 consecutive rainy days recorded between June 27 and July 29, 2019.
The extended rainfall has occurred well beyond Tokyo’s usual rainy season, which typically peaks in June.
Masayuki Kyoda, an official with the Japan Meteorological Agency, said El Niño had partly influenced the unusual weather conditions recorded during the month.
He explained that warmer-than-usual Pacific Ocean temperatures associated with the phenomenon had contributed to distinctive atmospheric conditions affecting Japan.
Kyoda also said autumn rain fronts had remained over the region longer than normal because a high-pressure system in the Pacific had persisted for an extended period.
Although he said the 34-day rainfall streak could not be directly attributed to climate change, he pointed to previous findings by the weather agency indicating that global warming was having long-term effects on Japan’s weather, including increased precipitation.
The persistent rainfall has also resulted in unusually high precipitation totals in central Tokyo.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the capital received about 629 millimetres of rainfall during September through Monday, nearly three times the normal amount for the month.
The figure was also approaching Tokyo’s September rainfall record of 670.9 millimetres, established in 1958.
The prolonged wet conditions have raised concerns over flooding in Tokyo and the wider region, where heavy rainfall has already caused significant disruption.
The unusual weather in Japan comes amid wider extreme rainfall events across parts of Asia.
In Thailand, about 1.7 million people have been affected by recent flooding following an intense weather system that struck the region.
At least 23 people have died since mid-September as the flooding continued to affect communities in several parts of the country.
Scientists have increasingly linked a warming atmosphere with a greater capacity to hold moisture, which can increase the potential for intense rainfall when suitable weather systems develop.
At the same time, natural climate phenomena such as El Niño can alter atmospheric circulation, wind patterns, pressure systems and the distribution of rainfall across different regions.
The combination of these factors has contributed to an increasingly complex global weather pattern this year, with some areas experiencing excessive rainfall and flooding while others face severe dryness.
Tokyo’s record-breaking rainfall streak therefore adds to growing concerns about unusual precipitation patterns and the increasing risks posed by extreme weather events.
The Japan Meteorological Agency continues to monitor the changing conditions as the capital experiences rainfall far beyond what would normally be expected for this period of the year.
