Mount Fuji snowless at end of October for first time in 130 years
Japan's iconic Mount Fuji remains snowless, marking the latest date without a snowcap since records began 130 years ago. This unprecedented delay surpasses the previous record of October 26, recorded twice in 1955 and 2016. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that Mount Fuji has yet to see any snow on its slopes this year, a phenomenon attributed to unusually high temperatures and prolonged warm weather.
Meteorologist Yutaka Katsuta from the Kofu Local Meteorological Office stated that this is the latest date since comparative data has been available in 1894. Katsuta explained, "The temperatures were high this year [...] which poses an obstacle to any cold air," contributing to the record delay in snowfall on Mount Fuji. Shinichi Yanagi, another meteorological officer at the Kofu office, noted that the absence of snow on Mount Fuji on October 29 broke the previous record. He said, "Because of the fact that high temperatures in Japan have been continuing since the summer and as it has been raining, there has been no snowfall."
Japan experienced its hottest summer on record this year, with temperatures between June and August being 1.76 degrees Celsius higher than average. The warm temperatures continued into September and October, preventing the cold air necessary for snow. In the first week of October 2023, at least 74 cities recorded temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher. Meteorologists confirmed that prolonged warm weather, high temperatures, and rain have prevented the formation of snow on Mount Fuji.
