Mount Fuji's snowless record: Climate change's latest toll
The summit of Mount Fuji in Japan should have been covered in snow for several weeks now. Unfortunately, although this was expected to happen at the beginning of October, there is no trace of snow on the mountain. Mount Fuji in Japan remains snow-free for the longest time in 130 years, reports "The Guardian."
Mount Fuji, known for its snow cover appearing after the summer, remains without snow for the longest period in 130 years. According to "The Guardian," no snowfall was observed on this iconic mountain by October 29.
The first snowfall on Mount Fuji usually occurs in mid-September. This means that by the beginning of October, the mountain is typically covered with a thick layer of snow. However, this year, Fuji remained snow-free throughout October.
Record-breaking delay
Yutaka Katsuta from the Kofu Local Meteorological Office explains that the high temperatures this summer, lasting until September, prevented the inflow of cold air, thereby delaying the snowfall. This is the latest date since 1894, breaking the previous record of October 26, noted in 1955 and 2016.
The Japanese summer was one of the hottest on record, with experts primarily attributing this to climate change. The past summer in Japan was exceptionally long and hot, with the average temperature exceeding the norm by 2 degrees Celsius.
In the context of Japan's climate, it's also significant that just in the first week of October 2024, temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius were recorded in at least 74 Japanese cities.
Fewer tourists on Fuji
This year, fewer tourists climbed Fuji, a result of the introduction of fees and daily limits by Japanese authorities to manage excessive tourism. The mountain, known for its symmetrical shape, has been immortalized in various works of art, including Hokusai's "The Great Wave."
