Meteorological Agency Declares End of Rainy Season in Tokai Region, Third Earliest on Record

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on the 4th that the rainy season (tsuyu) has ended in the Tokai region. This marks the end of the rainy season 15 days earlier than average, making it the third earliest summer arrival on record. Residents expressed mixed feelings, with comments like "It was surprisingly early, today of all days," and "I'm happy, but... the heat scares me," reflecting both anticipation and concern for the full-fledged summer.

With the end of the rainy season, the Tokai region is expected to experience a prolonged period of intense heat. On the 4th, the maximum temperature in Nagoya was forecast to reach 34 degrees Celsius, and a heatstroke alert was issued for Mie Prefecture, indicating that severe heat has already arrived. Social media is filled with warnings such as "Aichi is hot" and "Heatstroke prevention is essential," urging frequent hydration, appropriate breaks, and strict vigilance against heatstroke.

Regarding this early end to the rainy season, some questioned the amount of rainfall during the period, asking, "Did it even rain that much?" and remarking, "It seems the gentle, drizzly rainy season might not come anymore." Related concerns about the impact on agricultural crops, water shortages, and even rising rice prices have also been voiced, with future developments being closely watched.

In the past, localized torrential downpours have occurred shortly after the end of the rainy season, and phenomena like "return of the rainy season" (modori-tsuyu) have been observed. Concerns such as "It starts raining heavily as soon as the rainy season ends" and "Severe torrential rains often occur after the end of the rainy season" have also been expressed. With the full onset of summer, citizens are urged to prepare not only for heatstroke but also for sudden weather changes.

The context

In Japan, the rainy season (梅雨, tsuyu or baiu) is a period of persistent rain and high humidity that typically occurs from early June to mid-July. The end of this season, known as 梅雨明け (tsuyu-ake), marks the official transition to summer. An early tsuyu-ake, as seen in this article for the Tokai region (a central area including cities like Nagoya), often means an earlier onset of intense heat, raising concerns about heatstroke. It can also impact agricultural practices and water resources, especially if the preceding rainy season had insufficient rainfall. The term 戻り梅雨 (modori-tsuyu) refers to a phenomenon where rainy conditions return temporarily after the official end of the rainy season. 熱中症警戒アラート (Netchusho Keikai Alert) is a specific warning issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of the Environment when conditions are ripe for severe heatstroke.