The longest Kuroshio meander in recorded history, sea surface temperature off the coast of Sanriku is up to 7c higher (April 21-27, 2024 Ocean Summary)

2024/05/02 16:08

It has been 6 years and 10 months since the Kuroshio Meander began, making it the longest period on record.

Ocean Summary April 21st to 27th, 2024.




# Pressure distribution and waves

On the 21st, a low pressure system developing in the east of Japan moved eastward.
Wave heights of 3 meters or more are widespread off the coast of Sanriku.

On the 22nd, a low pressure system accompanied by a front moved eastward along the southern coast of Honshu.
At night, the wave height was 3m near the Izu Islands.

On the 23rd and 24th, a frontal low pressure system moved eastward along the southern coast of Honshu.
On the Pacific side, wave height is around 2m mainly around the Izu Islands.

On the 25th, a developing low pressure system moved northeast off the coast of Sanriku.
Wave height over 3m from east of Kanto to off the coast of Sanriku.
In the waters of Japan, wave heights are around 3m around low pressure systems moving north.

On the 26th, a developing low pressure system reached the waters near Chishima.
Wave height around 2m off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido.

On the 27th, a front stalled in the south of Japan, and a low-pressure system above the
front moved eastward south of Kanto. At night, the wave height was 3m in the eastern Kanto region.



#Sea surface temperature

Towards the end of this period, areas with higher than normal sea conditions expanded in Japanese waters.

In the East China Sea and the vicinity of the Nansei Islands, the sea area continues to be at or slightly above normal.

On the Pacific side, the Kuroshio Current continued to meander, and the sea area continued to be slightly lower than normal from the coast of Shikoku to the coast of Shionomisaki, where the Kuroshio leaves the coast.

Off the coast of Sanriku, where the Kuroshio Current moves northward,
the sea area remained significantly higher than normal, with temperatures up to 7 degrees Celsius.

Off the southeastern coast of Hokkaido, where the Oyashio current has receded, sea levels have continued to be significantly higher than normal.

In the Sea of Okhotsk and the seas near Chishima Island, sea conditions continued to be similar to normal.

[1-month forecast] Summer is already in full swing. High temperature trend continues nationwide in May

2024/05/02 15:22

Today, the 2nd (Thursday), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the ``1-month forecast'' for the period from May 4th to June 3rd.

Warm air tends to flow into May,
temperatures are expected to be high in eastern and western Japan and the Okinawa/Amami region, and
to be near or above normal in northern Japan.

Especially in eastern Japan, there are likely to be some places where
temperatures will be quite high from around May 4th to May 10th.

From early summer onwards, there are likely to be some places where it can be as hot as mid-summer, so
it is necessary to prepare for the heat from early on.



It's raining again The amount is expected to be at or above normal on the Sea of Japan side of northern and eastern Japan due to the effects of low pressure and moist air.

In Okinawa and the Amami region, rainfall is expected to be at or above normal
due to the influence of the front (rainy season front) and humid air.

Normally the start of the rainy season (last year, 2023 rainy season)
Okinawa region: around May 10th (around May 18th)
Amami region: around May 12th (around May 18th)

In a normal year This is the season when the rainy season begins in Okinawa and the Amami region.

It looks like the rainy season will begin in earnest in the southern regions this year as well.

Sunshine hours are expected to be similar to normal throughout the country.

Weather for the week: Rain from the west on the last day of Golden Week

2024/05/02 13:54

Tomorrow, from the 3rd (Friday) to the 5th (Sunday), the Honshu region is expected to be covered in high pressure and clear skies. It will be a good day for tourists.
However, temperatures are expected to rise, and there will likely be more summer days in the Tohoku region.







Especially on the 4th (Sat) and 5th (Sun), Kanto-Koshin It will be as hot as midsummer, especially in inland areas. The maximum temperature in Kumagaya is expected to be 29c.
Please be sure to take precautions against heat stroke when traveling to an unfamiliar destination or returning home.
In Okinawa and Amami, the rain will calm down tomorrow, the 3rd (Friday), but there will be some showers, and sunny spells are expected to peek through the clouds from the 4th (Sat.) to the 5th (Sun.).
In Hokkaido, tomorrow the 3rd (Friday) will be the passage of a low pressure system or a trough of atmospheric pressure, and even if the eastern and northern regions are sunny, there will be periods of rain, and from the 4th (Saturday) to the 5th (Sunday) there will be clouds. It will spread.

On the last day of Golden Week, the 6th (Monday), the weather was going downhill from the west.



With front line A low pressure system is expected to move through the Sea of Japan.
Rain will gradually spread from the west, mainly in Okinawa and western Japan.
A low-pressure system is developing, and there is a risk of strong southerly winds and locally heavy rain.
If you are planning to return home from an outing, it is best to plan with plenty of time.
Clouds are expected to spread over eastern and northern Japan.

And on the 7th (Tuesday), the end of Golden Week, it will rain all over the country, and there will be places where you will need an umbrella when commuting.



8th (Wed) ), The weather on the 9th (Thursday) will also be cloudy and rainy, so it might be a good idea to avoid piling up laundry during Golden Week.

Tomorrow [Temperature difference in one day is about 20c] Frost in the morning, summer heat in the afternoon in some places. Be careful of temperature difference in northern Japan

2024/05/02 12:53

Northern Japan will need to be especially careful about the temperature difference tomorrow, the 3rd (Friday, Constitution Day), when the second half of the long weekend begins.

Tonight through tomorrow morning, the skies will be covered by high pressure, so radiative cooling is expected to increase even at night, as heat escapes from the ground.

Especially in northern Japan, radiative cooling becomes stronger,
with many places with minimum temperatures in the single digits.





4c in Obihiro, 6c in Aomori and Morioka It will be cold enough to cause frost on fields and shrubbery.

Agricultural crops (potatoes, corn, apples, etc.) whose flower buds bloom during this period
must be carefully managed
.


However, the temperature rises during the day, with some summer days reaching around 20c in Hokkaido and northern Tohoku, and over 25c in southern Tohoku.

In Fukushima, the temperature difference during the day can be as much as 19c,
making it very difficult to choose what to wear.



Temperature and clothing Looking at the relationship between
, when the temperature drops below 8c, you will want a winter coat such as down.
However, when the temperature exceeds 25c during the day,
short sleeves and T-shirts are just the right temperature.

Generally speaking, it is said that a difference in temperature of 5 degrees Celsius changes the amount of clothing you wear.
It might be a good idea to wear clothes that you can take off and put on and take off 3 to 4 clothes tomorrow.

The moon approaches Saturn. Wake up early to observe the stars during Golden Week!

2024/05/02 10:15

The moon will approach Saturn at dawn on the 4th (Sat).

It can be observed from a low position in the sky in the southeast direction.

Because dawn breaks before both Saturn and the moon rise to a high position,
the sky will become brighter as time passes and they will no longer be visible,
itsuggest you start observing at about 3am.

Please observe in a well-open place in the southeast direction where you can see the low sky.

Also, the moon will approach Mars on the following day, the 5th (Sun).

However, this will be quite low in the sky, so it may be difficult to find.




For the next three days, high pressure will cover Japan, and many areas are expected to experience clear skies.

The temperature at dawn will be 13-17 C in many areas, and it will be a pleasant atmosphere even if you get up early.

If you are observing for a long time, it is a good idea to bring a light outer layer to keep your body warm.

Today's weather: Sunshine reaches a wide area; the weather is improving in the Kanto region as well.

2024/05/02 06:00

Today, the 2nd (Thursday), the area around Japan will be covered by a mobile anticyclone centered over the Sea of Japan, and it will be sunny over a wide area from northern to western Japan.

Some areas in the Kanto and Tokai regions where it is raining in the early hours of the morning
The weather is likely to slowly improve after this.

On the other hand, the Nansei Islands will be near a front,
and the atmospheric conditions will be unstable.

It will be rainy throughout the day,
with locally heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Depending on how the rain falls, there is a possibility of heavy rain reaching warning levels.
Please continue to be careful about landslides, flooding, and flooding of roads.



Looking at the forecast for the maximum temperature, it is expected that there will be many places where it will be comfortable, with Tokyo at 20c and Osaka at 22c.

However, the temperature in Sapporo is expected to be 21c, more than 6c higher than yesterday (Wednesday), and the temperature in Abashiri is expected to be 20c (same as early July), which is 13c higher than yesterday.

There are places in Hokkaido where the temperature is significantly higher than yesterday, so
Please be careful not to get sick due to the temperature difference.

Heavy rain near the front in Okinawa

2024/05/02 05:30

In the Okinawa region, the atmospheric conditions are expected to be unstable today, the 2nd (Thu) due to the influence of a front in the sea nearby.

*Heavy rain

Today, the 2nd (Thu) in the Okinawa main island region and the Sakishima Islands, heavy rain of up to 30 mm per hour is expected in some areas.

Please be careful of landslides, flooding of low-lying land, and rising river levels.

Depending on the degree of development of rain clouds, there is a risk of heavy rain of warning level.

Expected 24-hour rainfall until dawn tomorrow (heavy areas)
Okinawa main island region: 80 mm
Sakishima Islands: 70 mm

*Lightning

In the Okinawa main island region and the Sakishima Islands today, the 2nd (Thu)
In the Daito Islands region, please be careful of lightning, gusts of wind, and sudden heavy rain from tomorrow, the 3rd (Fri).

The end of Golden Week is a stormy situation nationwide.

2024/05/01 17:39

During the second half of Golden Week, from the 3rd to the 5th, many areas of the Japanese archipelago will be covered in high pressure and will be sunny.
Meanwhile, from the 6th (Monday) to the 8th (Wednesday), the last day of Golden Week, a developing low-pressure system is expected to move eastward from Northeastern China to the Sea of Japan.




For this reason, from the afternoon of the 6th (Monday) in western Japan, It has started to rain, and it is expected to rain nationwide on Tuesday the 7th, the end of Golden Week. Winds from the south will become stronger towards the center of the low pressure system, and there will likely be some places where it will be raining sideways.





Especially from the Tokai to the Kanto-Koshin regions, the timing of the heavier rain falls during commuting time. It may overlap with the obi. Please check the latest weather information as transportation may be affected in some cases.

The cherry blossom front picks up speed and heads north. Cherry blossoms are blooming today in Wakkanai, the northernmost area.

2024/05/01 15:12

Today, the flowering of cherry blossoms was announced in Wakkanai.
Announced 12 days earlier than usual and two days earlier than last year, the cherry blossom front is moving northward at increased speed.

Kushiro is the only place where we have not yet received any news about the cherry blossoms blooming, but it looks like there will be an announcement soon.
Kushiro's normal cherry blossom bloom date is May 16th, so it looks like the season for cherry blossom viewing in Kushiro will be earlier than usual.

The weather in Hokkaido is expected to continue to be sunny and hot for this time of year, and the cherry blossoms will continue to bloom, and the best time to see the cherry blossoms in Wakkanai will be around the second half of Golden Week.


By the way, in Hokkaido, Ezoyamazakura blooms more often than Someiyoshino.
Ezoyamazakura is a deeper pink color than Someiyoshino, its reddish leaf buds open along with the flowers, and it has a long lifespan.

During the second half of Golden Week, the temperature difference between morning and evening and daytime is likely to be large. Why not bring a warm jacket and go out to see the cherry blossoms in Hokkaido

Be careful of heatstroke and rain during the second half of the long weekend

2024/05/01 12:39

Today, it is raining from Okinawa/Kyushu to the Kanto-Koshin region due to the influence of fronts and low pressure systems, and atmospheric conditions are especially unstable in the Okinawa region.
Please be careful of heavy rain in Okinawa after this.

#Rain forecast for tomorrow
The rain in western Japan is expected to stop by this afternoon.
However, the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions are likely to experience even more heavy rain after this.
Tomorrow, the weather will improve in the Kyushu and Tokai regions and it will be sunny, but the Kanto-Koshin region will be prone to damp air and clouds will likely remain.
It will rain all day tomorrow in Okinawa, so please be careful of thunderstorms.

#Tomorrow's weather
It is expected to be mostly sunny except for Okinawa.
Daytime temperatures are likely to exceed 20c in Kyushu and Hokkaido, making it a pleasant and sunny day.
The temperature difference between morning and evening and daytime is very large, so please adjust your clothing wisely.

#What's the weather like in the second half of the long holidays
Well, the second half of the long holiday begins the day after tomorrow. Looking at the weather trends, it looks like it will be sunny nationwide from the 3rd to the 5th, and it will be hot in western and eastern Japan. Temperatures will rise, especially in inland areas, and there will be days when temperatures can reach nearly 30 degrees Celsius.
Please take precautions against heat stroke by using a parasol.

The weather will turn downhill on the last day of the holidays, and there is a possibility of heavy rain in western Japan on the 6th, so if you are returning home, please check the latest weather information.
The rain and wind are likely to increase in eastern and northern Japan on Tuesday after the holidays.