85%

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan’s weather forecasts have an accuracy rate of about 85%. Thanks to advanced technologies such as the Himawari weather satellites, Japan produces highly precise forecasts, which greatly help people plan their daily lives.

Ingredients and hardness

The main differences between graupel and hail are their composition and hardness. Graupel consists of white, soft ice pellets, whereas hail grows by repeatedly rising and falling within clouds, forming layers that make it transparent and hard.

From early summer to autumn

Uroko-gumo, formally known as cirrocumulus clouds, are a type of cloud characterized by rows of small, scale-like patches in the sky. They are most commonly seen from early summer to autumn, when typhoons and migratory low-pressure systems are more frequent.

30 degrees or higher

A “midsummer day” refers to a day when the highest temperature is 30°C or above. A day with a temperature of 25°C or above is called a “summer day,” and 35°C or above is termed an “extremely hot day.”

41.1℃

According to meteorological data up to 2023, temperatures of 41.1°C were recorded in Saitama in July 2018 and in Shizuoka in August 2020.

Cloud cover

The distinction between 'clear' (kaisei) and 'sunny' (hare) is determined by how much of the sky is covered by clouds. Generally, when there are very few clouds and most of the sky is clear, it’s described as 'kaisei' (clear), while a state with relatively few clouds but not enough to be called 'kaisei' is described as 'hare' (sunny).

summer

During this time of year, the atmosphere tends to become unstable, and rain clouds can develop rapidly, bringing extremely heavy rain in a short period. So-called 'guerrilla downpours' are particularly likely to occur during the hot summer months.