Jun 09 (NHK) - Temperatures soared across much of Japan on Monday.
Some cities in southwestern Japan saw the mercury exceed 35 degrees Celsius. Weather officials say the heat will linger on Tuesday.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system over eastern and western Japan brought warm air from the south mainly to the southwestern region of Kyushu.
In Kyushu, the daytime high in Kurume City hit 35.8 degrees. The high in Saga City was 35.2 degrees. The cities became the first in the nation to see the temperature rise above 35 degrees this season.
Going into Tuesday, it will be sweltering not just in western Japan but also in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures and northeastern Japan.
Expected highs in Kurume and Toyooka cities are 35 degrees, and 31 degrees in Tokyo.
Environment Ministry officials are warning against heatstroke as people's bodies have yet to adapt to such high temperatures. They say people have the extra burden of wearing facemasks.
Officials are advising people to avoid intense exercise while wearing masks and to drink plenty of water. They also advise taking masks off as long as social distancing can be maintained.
