Swedish Consulate – Japan has recorded one of its extreme heat summers this year since temperature records began in 1898. On Monday, September 2, 2024, local weather authorities confirmed that this year’s record is on par with the high set in 2023.
According to Kyodo on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the average temperature over the summer months of June through August was 1.76°C higher than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020. The agency used 15 observation points to calculate the national average temperature.
The selected points excluded areas such as urban heat islands that might be more affected by environmental conditions. So far in 2024, Japan has recorded 8,821 instances of “extreme heat,” defined as temperatures of 35°C or higher. Surpassing the previous peak of 6,692 incidents from the previous year.
From June to August, 144 out of 914 national observation sites either broke or matched their temperature records. Various locations reported temperatures exceeding 40°C, with the highest recorded in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, on July 29, 2024, at 41°C, ranking it third highest.
In August 2020, a record high temperature of 41.1°C was observed in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. This figure matched the all-time high recorded in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, in July 2018. With extreme heat conditions expected to continue into September 2024, the Japan Meteorological Agency has urged the public to take precautions against heatstroke, including using air conditioning if necessary.
Shopping Centers See Increased Visitor Numbers
According to Korea Times on August 26, 2024. Visitor numbers to major malls this month have increased by 10 percent compared to the previous year. With nighttime visits rising by 20 percent. Lotte Department Store and Lotte Outlet saw a 10 percent increase in visitors from August 1 to 20, 2024, compared to the same period last year.
Lotte malls have been notably busier from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM local time, compared to earlier hours. LotteMalls Reported a 20 percent increase in pedestrian traffic during evening hours compared to the previous year.
Shinsegae, including its department stores, and Starfield malls nationwide also reported an average visitor increase of 5.5 percent this month compared to the previous year. Additionally, sales at these locations rose by 4.9 percent year-over-year.
Visitor numbers at Starfield Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, increased by 9.6 percent this month compared to last year, reaching 1.45 million. The mega mall east of Seoul averages 55,000 visitors on weekdays and 105,000 on weekends.
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Extreme Heat Wave in South Korea
Residents of Seoul, South Korea, have also been enduring a severe heatwave this summer. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported a new record for tropical nights. With 37 such nights recorded by the evening of Friday, August 23, 2024.
This marks the highest number of tropical nights in a year since modern meteorological observations began in the city in 1907. A tropical night is define as a night when temperatures remain above 25°C from 6:01 PM to 9:00 AM the following morning.
The heatwave is expect to persist through the weekend, with daily high temperatures ranging between 33-35°C, according to the KMA. Yonhap reported on Sunday, August 25, 2024, that the previous record was 36 days in 1994.
The hot summer has had a positive impact on air-conditioned shopping malls. Large malls in various cities have become popular destinations, with many residents spending several hours there, even into the night.
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