Tokyo hits record 34 straight rainy days

Dhaka: Central Tokyo has recorded its longest continuous spell of rainy days since records began, with the streak reaching 34 days on September 29, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The previous record was 33 days, set in June and July 2019, since JMA started keeping records in 1886.

The current streak began on August 27 with 5 mm of rain. Although many days since then have seen only light showers, two typhoons brought heavy downpours in September.

Typhoon Krovanh dumped over 150 mm of rain on September 6 and 7. Typhoon Dujuan then peaked at 156 mm on September 21, triggering floods and landslides across the Kanto region. At least 10 people were killed, and buildings, farmland, and infrastructure suffered extensive damage.

Typhoon Surigae is now moving northeast and may make landfall, potentially bringing heavy rain to Kanto again. Chiba Prefecture, still recovering from Dujuan, is particularly at risk.

Tokyo received 629 mm of rain this month through September 28, the second-highest total for the month since 1875. Rainfall for the year through that day stood at 1,949.5 mm, the third-highest annual total since 1951.

The city has also seen four days with at least 100 mm of rain and six with at least 70 mm this year. Both figures tie for the most in a single year since 1875.

The persistent rain has also cut sunshine to historic lows. Central Tokyo got only 46.8 hours of sunshine over the past month, just 36% of the average for the period. Fourteen days during the ongoing streak through September 28 had no sunshine at all.