Japan’s iconic Mt.Fuji still has no snow on its summit, though it has entered November, marking the longest snow-free period since records began 130 years ago and disappointing millions of tourists who rush to admire it.

Snow appears on average in early October – last year it was first spotted on October 5th. But this year, the summit and slopes of the famous mountain remain “dry”, due to climate change and global warming.

“Due to the warm weather, no snowfall has yet been observed on Japan’s highest mountain this year,” said Yutaka Katsuta, a meteorologist at the Kofu Service, which has been tracking snowfall since 1894.

October 29, 2024 – the day of the last snow-free measurement – ​​broke the previous record of October 26 – which was set twice, in 1955 and 2016.

According to the Japanese meteorologist, climate change may have a degree of effect on the delay of snow formation. “Temperatures have been high this summer and these high temperatures have continued into September, preventing cold air that brings snow,” Katsuta told AFP news agency.

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Japan recorded its hottest summer this year since records began in 1898, according to the weather service, which said in September that temperatures from June to August were 1.76 degrees Celsius above average. surpassing the previous record of 1.08 degrees Celsius in 2010.

Autumn in Japan was also unusually warm, with at least 74 areas recording temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher in the first week of October