Japan Sets New Heat Record Amid East Asian Heatwave
The Facts
- Japan recorded its highest temperature ever on Wednesday when the heat reached 41.2°C (106°F) in Tamba city, Hyogo Prefecture, surpassing the previous record of 41.1°C set in 2018 and 2020, as a heatwave has also impacted South Korea.
- South Korea experienced a record-breaking streak of 22 consecutive tropical nights in July, with overnight temperatures in Seoul staying above 25°C for the longest period since modern weather records began in 1907.
- More than 10,800 people in Japan were hospitalized for heat-related illnesses in the week ending July 21, with 16 heat-related deaths reported, representing the highest weekly number this year, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
These record temperatures represent a clear escalation in the climate crisis affecting East Asia. The consecutive breaking of heat records in Japan and South Korea's unprecedented tropical night streak demonstrates how climate change is making extreme weather more frequent and deadly. Asia is also warming faster than other parts of the world, making the crisis all the more acute.
Climate-skeptic narrative
Japan is uniquely vulnerable to heatwaves due to its aging population, making a climate-only narrative one that buries the lede. Japan has been leading the way in ameliorating the impact of heat on the elderly and vulnerable, including promoting air conditioning, well-being visits on those who live alone, and even the use of wearable tech that monitors body temperature. Society can make heatwave deaths preventable, and focusing on climate alarmism doesn't help.
Metaculus Prediction
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