Japan Meteorological Agency Announces End of Rainy Season for Kanto-Koshin, Hokuriku, and Southern Tohoku

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and local meteorological observatories announced on Friday, July 18, that the rainy season has ended for the Kanto-Koshin, Hokuriku, and Southern Tohoku regions. For the Kanto-Koshin region, the end of the rainy season occurred on the same day as last year and one day earlier than average, marking what is officially considered "normal" timing for the arrival of summer.

However, this announcement of "normal" timing has been met with widespread confusion and skepticism on social media. Posts such as "Are they really saying the end of the rainy season this year is normal?" and "This is the first year I've ever doubted that phrase so much" have appeared. Many users felt that heatwave-like conditions had already persisted since the middle of the rainy season, leading comments like "The mid-rainy season break felt like an entire summer" and "The heat simply got a head start."

The JMA defines "normal" as a period within two days before or after the average date based on data from the past 30 years. This definition creates a gap between official announcements and public perception, leading to some harsh comments like, "Are they manipulating the data to force it into the 'normal' range?"

Regardless, with the official declaration of the rainy season's end, full-fledged summer heat is now expected. According to Weathernews, a severe heatwave is forecast for the upcoming three-day weekend immediately after the rainy season's conclusion, and strict vigilance against heatstroke continues to be advised. On a positive note, there were also relieved voices regarding rainfall during the rainy season, with no major concerns about water reservoir levels.

The Context

"Tsuyu" (梅雨), commonly known as the rainy season, is a significant meteorological phenomenon in Japan, typically occurring from early June to mid-July. It is characterized by high humidity, frequent rainfall, and lower temperatures compared to the summer months that follow. The end of the rainy season is a crucial annual marker declared by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), signaling the official start of full-fledged summer.

The term "heinen-nami" (平年並み), translated as "normal" or "average for the year," is a standard phrase used by the JMA to describe weather phenomena that fall within a statistically defined range based on 30 years of historical data. In this context, it refers to the timing of the rainy season's end. The article highlights a common discrepancy between this statistical definition and the public's real-world perception, especially when unseasonably hot weather occurs before the official end of the rainy season, leading to skepticism and confusion among residents.

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