Mount Fuji Remains Snowless for Record-Breaking Period Following Japan’s Intense Summer

International news section31-10-2024

As of October 29, Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji had yet to receive any snowfall, marking the longest period without snow since records began 130 years ago. This delay highlights the impact of recent weather patterns, with the Japan Meteorological Agency confirming that snow had yet to appear on the famous peak, typically blanketed by early October.

On average, Mount Fuji’s snowcap begins forming around October 2, with snow first observed on October 5 last year. However, according to Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster with the Kofu Local Meteorological Office, no snow had fallen on Japan’s highest peak due to unusually warm weather this season.

This latest record surpasses previous years’ latest snow dates, including October 26, which held the previous record for late snow onset, first set in 1955 and matched in 2016. Katsuta explained that higher-than-normal temperatures through summer and September created conditions that kept colder air, which helps bring snowfall, at bay.

Katsuta suggested climate change might play a role in the unprecedented delay, as Japan experienced one of its hottest summers on record this year, matching temperatures previously observed only in 2023. This summer’s extreme heat waves, influenced by global climate trends, affected large regions worldwide.

Mount Fuji, which stands at 3,776 meters, is typically snow-covered for much of the year. During the prime hiking season from July to September, over 220,000 visitors trek up the mountain’s steep paths, with many hiking overnight to witness the sunrise from its peak. However, this year saw fewer climbers due to new regulations introduced by Japanese authorities, including entry fees and daily visitor caps to help manage overtourism.

As a symbol of Japan and a frequent subject in art, including Hokusai’s celebrated work “The Great Wave,” Mount Fuji’s symmetrical peak and snow-covered slopes are internationally recognized. The mountain’s last eruption occurred about 300 years ago, adding a geological reminder of its longstanding natural history amid changing climate patterns.