Okinawa Records Hottest September Since Observations Began

NAHA, Oct 02 (News On Japan) - The Okinawa region experienced record-breaking heat in September, with average temperatures 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal, the highest since records began.

In Uruma City’s Miyagi Island, the mercury reached 34.8 degrees, while both Nago and Ishigaki’s Moriyama reported highs of 34.5 degrees. Many locations across Okinawa set new records for September temperatures. In Naha, the average temperature for the month was 29.7 degrees, 1.8 degrees higher than usual.

Based on data from seven key observation points, including Nago and Yonaguni, the regional average showed a deviation of plus 1.6 degrees, making it the highest September figure since statistics began in 1946.

Sea surface temperatures around the islands also hit record highs, with waters in the southern East China Sea and east of Okinawa averaging 30.3 degrees.

The Okinawa Meteorological Observatory attributed the unusual heat to the strong Pacific high-pressure system that brought many clear days, while also noting that the effects of global warming may have played a role.

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