Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain, is currently experiencing its latest-ever snowless period, as it remains bare of snow later in the year than recorded since 1894. This unusual phenomenon arrives in the wake of exceptionally warm weather patterns experienced during the summer months, which were noted to be the hottest on record.
Mount Fuji Experiences Unprecedented Snowless Season
Mount Fuji Experiences Unprecedented Snowless Season
The iconic Japanese peak is facing an unprecedented delay in snowfall, raising concerns about climate conditions.
Typically, snow graces the summit of Mount Fuji by early October, but for 2023, the first traces of snow did not appear until October 5th. Meteorologists attribute this delay to a series of high temperatures recorded throughout the summer and into September, where nearly 1,500 regions in Japan experienced what the Meteorological Society classified as "extremely hot" days.
Temperatures during the summer spiked to an average of 1.76 degrees Celsius higher than usual, influencing the behavior of the subtropical jet stream which has shifted northward. This resulted in warm air continuing to flow over Japan, contrary to the typical conditions required for snowfall.
Although some temperature relief has manifested in October, it still remains warmer than the average for this time of year, leaving the mountain to await its first snow approaching November, now marking the longest interval recorded. The previous late snowfall periods were documented on October 26th in both 1955 and 2016.
Mount Fuji holds immense cultural significance in Japan, often featured in historical artwork and frequented by climbers and tourists, with over 220,000 people ascending the peak last year. As the mountain continues to lack its winter coat, concerns rise about the environmental implications and potential need for action regarding climate change.
Temperatures during the summer spiked to an average of 1.76 degrees Celsius higher than usual, influencing the behavior of the subtropical jet stream which has shifted northward. This resulted in warm air continuing to flow over Japan, contrary to the typical conditions required for snowfall.
Although some temperature relief has manifested in October, it still remains warmer than the average for this time of year, leaving the mountain to await its first snow approaching November, now marking the longest interval recorded. The previous late snowfall periods were documented on October 26th in both 1955 and 2016.
Mount Fuji holds immense cultural significance in Japan, often featured in historical artwork and frequented by climbers and tourists, with over 220,000 people ascending the peak last year. As the mountain continues to lack its winter coat, concerns rise about the environmental implications and potential need for action regarding climate change.
