Aug 27 (NHK) - Intense heat hit wide areas of Japan on Thursday. Weather officials are warning of high temperatures also during the night and on Friday.
Temperatures soared to 35.7 degrees Celsius in central Tokyo. That is the first time in two weeks and the second time this summer that the capital was hit by a temperature of 35 degrees or above.
The Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system staying south of Japan has covered large areas of the country, causing the mercury to shoot up.
The daytime high in Sano City in Tochigi Prefecture reached 37.2 degrees. It was 37 degrees in Koshu City in Yamanashi Prefecture, 36.8 degrees in Isesaki City in Gunma Prefecture, 36.6 degrees in Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture, and 36.2 degrees in Toyama City in Toyama Prefecture.
Weather officials say overnight lows are expected to remain at 25 degrees or more mainly in the Kanto and Tokai regions. They are advising people to use air conditioning and stay hydrated even at night.
Scorching heat is expected to continue on Friday in western and eastern Japan. Daytime highs are forecast to reach 36 degrees in the cities of Kyoto, Nagoya, Gifu and Iida.
The Meteorological Agency and the Environment Ministry have issued heatstroke alerts for several areas.
