Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Mount Fuji, Japan’s iconic peak, has yet to see its traditional snow covering this October, as warmer temperatures, driven by climate change, keep the mountaintop bare heading into the winter season starting in November. Snow usually graces the summit of Japan’s tallest mountain by early October. However, on Tuesday (Oct. 29), the mountaintop remained snow-free, a stark reminder of climate change’s effect on Japan’s landscapes.
Japan’s weather agency has recorded the first snow at Mount Fuji since 1894, with snow typically appearing around October 2. In recent years, snow arrived later — last year on October 5 — but this October, the summit remains without snow for the first time in 130 years.
Japan’s Kofu Local Meteorological Office, responsible for officially announcing Mount Fuji’s first snow cover each year, has yet to do so. According to meteorologist Shinichi Yanagi of the Kofu office, the prolonged high temperatures, which persisted from summer into autumn, and constant rainfall have prevented snowfall this year.
“Because temperatures have stayed unusually high and rain has continued, we have not had snow,” Yanagi said, as reported by CNN. Snowfall delays have occurred before, with October 26 setting the previous record in 1955 and 2016, but this year marks an unprecedented wait.
Japan’s summer temperatures reached record highs this year, with the Meteorological Agency reporting the hottest season on record since weather data collection began in 1898. Average temperatures from June through August were 1.76 degrees Celsius above normal, breaking the previous record of 1.08 degrees set in 2010. In early October, at least 74 cities across Japan still recorded temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit research organization, which attributes this unusual warmth to climate change.
El Niño and the Climate Crisis
This year’s extreme heat patterns are not confined to Japan. Global temperatures have broken records for two consecutive years, and 2024 is on track to become the hottest year in history. Climate change is a leading cause of these warming trends, while the natural El Niño phenomenon has further intensified global temperatures.
Scientists have long warned that global warming must be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change. A recent study published in January revealed that climate change has reduced snowpack across much of the Northern Hemisphere over the last 40 years, underscoring the potential long-term impact of delayed snowfalls like this year’s at Mount Fuji.
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The delayed snowfall at Mount Fuji could have implications for Japan’s tourism, water supplies, and agriculture. The UNESCO World Heritage site, standing at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), usually attracts millions of visitors annually who come to hike or experience its famously snow-capped peak. With warmer winters, Japan may see cascading effects that could impact tourism, local economies, and even public health, as warmer seasons can exacerbate allergies and shift water supply patterns.
Typically covered with snow most of the year, Mount Fuji’s summit is a beloved sight and a major draw for summer visitors when the annual climbing season opens in July. As global warming progresses, the sight of a snow-capped Fuji may become increasingly rare, a reality that signals a larger and pressing environmental shift.
(Raidi/Agung)
