Mount Fuji snow delay marks longest wait in 130 years
The summit of Mount Fuji in Japan should have been covered in snow for several weeks by now. Unfortunately, despite expectations for snow at the beginning of October, there is no trace of it on the mountain. According to "The Guardian," Mount Fuji remains snow-free for the longest period in 130 years.
12:54 PM EDT, October 30, 2024
Typically, Mount Fuji, known for its snow cover appearing after the summer, experiences its first snowfall in mid-September. By early October, it is usually blanketed with a thick layer of snow. However, this year, snow did not cover Fuji throughout the entire month of October.
Record-breaking delay
Yutaka Katsuta from the Kofu Local Meteorological Office explains that the unusually high temperatures this summer, which persisted into September, delayed the inflow of cold air necessary for snowfall. This is the latest snowfall since 1894, breaking the previous record set on October 26th, recorded in both 1955 and 2016.
The Japanese summer was one of the hottest on record, a trend that experts largely attribute to climate change. This past summer in Japan was exceptionally long and hot, with the average temperature in August exceeding the norm by 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the context of Japan's climate, it is notable that during just the first week of October 2024, temperatures exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit were recorded in at least 74 Japanese cities.
Fewer tourists on Fuji
This year, fewer tourists climbed Mount Fuji, partly due to the introduction of fees and daily limits by Japanese authorities to manage excessive tourism. The mountain, famous for its symmetrical shape, has been immortalized in many works of art, including Hokusai's "The Great Wave."
