Japan's 2-Week Forecast: Rain in the North, Heat in the South
Listen to the story
A new two-week weather forecast for Japan shows very different conditions across the country.
From the Kanto region to Hokkaido, cloudy skies and rain are expected on many days. Kanto includes Tokyo, and Hokkaido is Japan's northern island.
Meanwhile, from the Tokai region to Kyushu in the south, severe late-summer heat, known as zansho, will continue.
In Hokkaido, sudden heavy rain and thunderstorms are possible until the 21st, and people are asked to stay alert.
The city of Abashiri, in Hokkaido, has recorded a string of midsummer days in a row. This is the first time this has happened in 80 years.
A midsummer day, or manatsubi, is a day when the temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius.
This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, the weather in Hokkaido is expected to be sunny, making it good weather for outdoor activities.
However, even with clear skies, the severe late-summer heat is set to continue there as well.
Later in the forecast period, the heat in Hokkaido is expected to ease slightly. At major weather-observation points, no midsummer days are forecast during that time.
This mix of forecasts shows how different the weather can be across Japan, even within the same two weeks, with the north seeing more rain and cloud while southern and central areas keep facing intense heat.
Vocabulary6 words
- weather forecast
- a prediction of future weather conditions
- zansho
- strong, lingering heat at the end of summer in Japan
- thunderstorms
- storms with thunder, lightning and heavy rain
- midsummer days
- days when the temperature goes above 30 degrees Celsius
- manatsubi
- the Japanese term for a midsummer day
- outdoor activities
- leisure activities done outside, such as hiking or sports
Quiz
Answer key
1. Mostly cloudy with frequent rain 2. Severe, continuing late-summer heat 3. It recorded consecutive midsummer days not seen in 80 years
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new two-week _____ for Japan shows very different conditions across the country.
From the Kanto region to Hokkaido, cloudy skies and _____ are expected on many days.
From the Tokai region to Kyushu in the south, severe late-summer heat, known as _____, will continue.
In Hokkaido, sudden heavy rain and _____ are possible until the 21st.
The city of Abashiri has recorded a string of _____ in a row, the first time in 80 years.
A midsummer day, or _____, is a day when the temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius.
This weekend, the weather in Hokkaido is expected to be sunny, making it good weather for _____.
Later, the heat in Hokkaido is expected to ease slightly, with no midsummer days at major _____ points.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think weather can be so different across one country in the same season?
- Have you ever experienced unusually hot or cold weather that broke a local record?
- How does long-term heat, like zansho, affect daily life and health?
- What kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy when the weather is sunny?