Scorching heat is expected to grip much of western and eastern Japan on Monday, the weather agency said, urging people to take extra caution against heatstroke.
Due to a high-pressure system, sweltering weather is expected in much of the country, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), with a heatstroke alert in place for 31 prefectures, from Tokyo and Chiba in the Kanto region through Okinawa in southwestern Japan.
The JMA forecast daytime highs of 39 degrees Celsius in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and 38 degrees Celsius in cities including Saga, Yamaguchi and Nara.
The mercury is also forecast to jump in areas of Kumamoto Prefecture that were hit hard by a massive earthquake in late July, with daytime highs to reach 38 degrees Celsius in Kumamoto City, 37 degrees Celsius in Amakusa City and 36 degrees Celsius in Hitoyoshi City.
