Tokyo Experiences Longest Rain Streak on Record Since 1886
Tokyo has recorded 34 consecutive days of rainfall through 30 September, marking the longest such streak since Japan began tracking weather data in 1886. The Japan Meteorological Agency attributed the unusual pattern partly to the El Niño phenomenon, while noting that climate change is affecting Japan's precipitation patterns over the long term. Central Tokyo received 629 millimetres of rain in September alone, nearly three times the normal monthly average.
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Tokyo has recorded 34 consecutive days of rainfall through 30 September, setting a new record for the longest such streak since Japan began keeping weather records in 1886. The previous record, established between June and July 2019, lasted 33 days, making the current streak one day longer.
The extent of the rainfall has been extraordinary. Central Tokyo received 629 millimetres of rain in September alone through Monday, nearly three times the normal level for the month. This brings the total dangerously close to the September rainfall record of 670.9 millimetres, which was set in 1958. The Japan Meteorological Agency attributed this unusual weather pattern in part to the El Niño phenomenon, which has kept a high-pressure system and rain fronts positioned over the region for longer than typical.
JMA official Masayuki Kyoda told AFP that while the rain streak itself cannot be directly attributed to climate change, the agency's report from the previous year concluded that global warming is affecting Japan's weather patterns over the long term, including through increased precipitation. This prolonged wet weather follows a summer season that was marked by repeated episodes of heavy rainfall and widespread flooding across the Tokyo region and surrounding areas.
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