Temperatures continued to soar across parts of Japan on Saturday, with the mercury topping 40 degrees Celsius for the fifth straight day in the country, according to the weather agency.
The mercury rose to 40 degrees Celsius or higher in six cities in central Japan on Saturday, including all four prefectures in the Tokai region, Shizuoka, Gifu, Mie and Aichi, marking the fifth straight day that temperatures of 40 degrees or above have been recorded in the country, the longest such streak since comparative data became available in 2010, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture recorded a temperature of 40.6 degrees Celsius, while in Gifu Prefecture, the mercury rose to 40.8 degrees Celsius and 40.7 degrees Celsius in the cities of Mino and Tajimi, respectively, the JMA said.
Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture recorded 40.3 degrees Celsius, and Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture logged 40.0 degrees Celsius, it added.
Meanwhile, Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture, northeast of Shizuoka, also logged 40.0 degrees Celsius, becoming the first location outside of the Tokai region to register a "kokushobi," or a "cruelly hot day," this year, JMA data showed.
In April, the JMA introduced the term "kokushobi," which refers to days when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, to more effectively warn the public of extreme heat.
Japan sees temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius for record 5th straight day
Chinese meteorologists have deployed a swarm of drones for the first time to conduct three-dimensional observations throughout the entire passage of Typhoon Noul, providing new data to improve forecasting and disaster response.
The experiment began on Friday at the China Meteorological Administration's field research base for low-altitude weather observation in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, as meteorological researchers tracked Noul, the year's 12th typhoon.
Unlike a single drone, the drone swarm consists of multiple unmanned aircraft operating in coordination to simultaneously collect meteorological data at different locations and altitudes.
The drones continuously measured key low-altitude atmospheric conditions before, during and after the typhoon, including temperature, humidity, wind fields and turbulence. Researchers also monitored flight performance data to assess the operational limits of drones under extreme weather conditions.
The administration said the technology enables high-density, three-dimensional sampling of the lower atmosphere, helping fill gaps in offshore low-altitude observations. The data are expected to improve typhoon monitoring and forecasting while supporting the safe operation of drones in severe weather.
Noul landed near the coastal town of Pinghai in Huidong County, Huizhou City, at around 03:50 on Sunday, packing maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour.
It waned to a severe tropical storm and is tracking northward toward neighboring Hunan Province in central China.
Drone swarm deployed for full typhoon observation
