November has almost reached, however, the iconic Mount Fuji of Japan remains a “carnation” without its characteristic snow cover. This is the most recent date on record that the peak of the mountain remains snow-free, according to CNN.

Usually by early October, the mountain’s highest peaks are already sprinkled with snow, but this year they remain bare, sounding the alarm about the effects of the climate crisis, which have hit one of the country’s most beloved landmarks.

The first snowfall signals the arrival of winter. It follows the summer climbing season, which this year ended on September 10.

Avalanches start to form on Fuji on October 2 on average, and last year, were recorded on October 5, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency – although public broadcaster NHK reported that most of it had melted in early November due to warm temperatures .

The Local Meteorological Office Japan’s Kofu, which has annually announced the first snowfall at Fuji since it was founded in 1894, has yet to do so this year, citing unusually warm weather.

“Due to the fact that the high temperatures in Japan they have been going on since summer and since it was raining, no snowfall was observedShinichi Yanagi, a meteorologist at Kofu’s office, told CNN on Tuesday.

2024 was the warmest year on record

“The lack of snow on October 29 surpasses the previous record for October 26, set in 1955 and 2016“, he said.

“Japan recorded its hottest summer on record since records began in 1898,” the Weather Service announced in September.

The average temperature from June to August was 1.76 degrees Celsius above normal, surpassing the previous record of 1.08 degrees set in 2010, the agency said.

Japan remained unusually warm in autumn, with at least 74 cities recording temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher in the first week of October, according to an analysis by non-profit research group Climate Central.

Japan’s unusually hot October was three times more likely to be due to the climate crisis, according to Climate Central.

Japan’s extreme summer heat was not a local phenomenon. This summer broke global heat records for the second year in a row, with 2024 firmly on track to be the hottest year on record.

Scientists are sounding the alarm

Scientists have long warned that the world must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels to prevent the most devastating effects of climate change.

A new study in January found that the climate crisis has reduced snow accumulation in most parts of the northern hemisphere over the past 40 years.

The later snowfall on Mount Fuji could be a worrying sign of where the world is headed, with warmer winters impacting snow, tourism, local economies, food and water supplies and even allergies.

Along with Japan’s Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, the 3,776-meter Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Japan.

It is usually covered in snow most of the year until the annual climbing season opens in July, welcoming millions of visitors who want to walk to the top or watch the sunrise from its famous slopes.

In recent years, the mountain has suffered from overtourism, and Japanese officials previously told CNN that visitors were littering, overtaxing toilet facilities and hiking with improper equipment, resulting in accidents or injuries.

In July, authorities implemented a tourist tax and introduced new crowd management regulations. Now, climbers must pay 2,000 yen ($12.40) per person, with a daily maximum of 4,000 climbers per day.