Tokyo records 10-day heat streak

TOKYO experienced a record 10 consecutive days of temperatures 35°C or above, the weather office said yesterday, after the country sweltered through its hottest ever June and July.

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Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent worldwide because of human-caused climate change, scientists say, and Japan is no exception.

This “is the first time since the survey started” in 1875 that such a run has been recorded, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, saying that yesterday marked the 10th day of the heat streak.

It came after a town on the northern island of Hokkaido was deluged by a record level of rainfall this week, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Toyotomi logged more than a month's worth of rainfall in an average August in just 12 hours, it said.