October 29, 2024 – 10:58 pm
There are only a few days left until November, but Japan's symbol, Mount Fuji, is still snow-free. This has not been the case since records began in 1894, 130 years ago, writes A. CNN.
The summit of Japan's highest mountain is usually covered in snow in early October, as the first snowfall signals the arrival of winter. The summer climbing season ended on September 10 this year, and a few weeks after that, usually on October 2, snow begins to form on the mountain. Last year, this was postponed to October 5, and due to the heat, most of the snow melted at the beginning of November.
The lack of snow broke the previous record set on October 26 in 1955 and 2016, which can also be attributed to the fact that Japan recorded its hottest summer this year since statistics began in 1898, the Meteorological Office said.
Climate change has reduced snow cover across much of the Northern Hemisphere over the past 40 years, according to a study conducted earlier this year. Fuji snowfalls later and later may be a sign of the direction we are headed: warmer winters will impact snow, so tourism, the local economy, food and water supplies, and even people with allergies may suffer.
