Japan.– The Japanese capital reached a historic record this Tuesday by accumulating 34 consecutive days of rain, the longest streak recorded since meteorological measurements began in 1886, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The new record surpasses the 33 days of precipitation recorded between June 27 and July 29, 2019, which until now constituted the longest streak.
Although Tokyo usually goes through its main rainy season during June, this year the rainfall has extended throughout the boreal summer, even causing flooding in the Japanese capital region.
Masayuki Kyoda, a representative of the Japan Meteorological Agency, explained to AFP that the conditions recorded this month are partially related to the El Niño phenomenon, which is associated with higher temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
The specialist also indicated that the rainy fronts characteristic of autumn are remaining for longer than usual, a situation also linked to the persistence of a high-pressure system over the Pacific.
El Niño can modify wind patterns, atmospheric pressure, and cloud formation, generating heavy rainfall in certain regions and drought conditions in others.
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Added to these factors is global warming. A report published last year by the JMA noted that its effects are modifying Japan’s climate in the long term, including an increase in precipitation.
Emissions derived from fossil fuels contribute to the increase in temperature and available humidity in the atmosphere, conditions that can favor episodes of more intense rainfall.
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Heavy rainfall has also affected other areas of Asia. In Thailand, around 1.7 million people have been affected by floods, while 23 people have died since mid-September due to intense downpours.
