TOKYO, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Japan, like many other regions of the world, experienced the highest average temperatures ever recorded in the year 2023 amid unprecedented climate conditions, the country's weather agency said on Friday.
Japan's projected annual average temperature for 2023 soared 1.34 degrees Celsius above the nation's average, calculated from the period of January to November, the Japan Meteorological Agency said in its latest report.
The figure surpassed the previous record of 0.65 degrees Celsius above the average in 2020, marking the highest temperature since records began in 1898, it added.
According to the report, particularly affected are the northern, eastern, and western regions of Japan, with significantly elevated temperatures.
Since 1946, the northern and eastern parts of Japan have experienced consecutive record-breaking seasonal average temperatures in spring, summer, and autumn. Meanwhile, western Japan has seen the summer average temperatures tie for the highest on record.
The agency also noted extensive climatic disparities within the country, pointing out that on the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan, as well as in Okinawa and Amami, autumn precipitation has significantly decreased, accompanied by a considerable increase in sunshine hours.
Particularly, the western Pacific side of Japan saw the driest and sunniest autumn since 1946 with the autumn precipitation 48 percent below average and sunshine hours 120 percent above average. ■
