Japan’s environment ministry and weather officials have issued heatstroke alerts for 21 prefectures on Friday as temperatures of more than 35 degrees Celsius are forecast in many areas of western and eastern Japan.
The Meteorological Agency says the mercury is expected to rise because a high-pressure system over the Pacific will cover most of western and eastern Japan.
Daytime highs are forecast to reach 37 degrees in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture; Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture; Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture; Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture; Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; and Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. Temperatures are predicted to reach up to 36 degrees in central Tokyo and the cities of Fukushima, Fukui and Kyoto.
Authorities are calling on people to avoid exercising outside and at indoor facilities without air conditioning.
They are also advised to avoid nonessential outings. They should drink water frequently even if they do not feel thirsty and not hesitate to use air conditioning at home.