Many parts of Japan remain in the grip of intense heat on Monday, with temperatures rising above 35 degrees Celsius in the morning in some areas.
Dangerously hot conditions are expected in western Japan, and people are advised to take thorough measures against heatstroke.
The Meteorological Agency says that a high-pressure system over western and eastern Japan is driving up temperatures across much of the country.
By 11:30 a.m., the mercury had hit 37.7 degrees in Dazaifu City in Fukuoka Prefecture, and 37.3 degrees in Hita City in Oita Prefecture.
Temperatures are expected to rise to 38 degrees in Yamaguchi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture, and Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Daytime highs are forecast to reach 37 degrees in the cities of Osaka, Nagoya and Kagoshima, and 36 degrees in the cities of Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kochi and Kofu.
The Meteorological Agency and the Environment Ministry have issued heatstroke alerts for 34 of Japan’s 47 prefectures.
They are Fukushima, Tokyo’s Ogasawara Islands, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Niigata, Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Okayama, Hiroshima, Shimane, Tottori, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Oita, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima excluding the Amami region, and Okinawa’s main island and the Daitojima regions.
In addition to refraining from going out and exercising, people are advised to use air conditioning indoors and to regularly consume adequate amounts of fluids and salt.
People are also asked to keep an eye on infants and the elderly, who are at higher risk of developing heatstroke.
Atmospheric conditions are very unstable from northern to western Japan due to warm, moist air and rising temperatures, with localized rain clouds developing.
Unstable weather conditions are expected to continue through Tuesday. Northern and eastern Japan may have torrential downpours accompanied by thunder.
Weather officials are urging caution against landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.
They are also advising people to be on the alert for lightning, wind gusts, including tornadoes, and hail.
People should take shelter inside sturdy buildings if there are signs of developed cumulonimbus clouds approaching.