China, Japan record hottest July

China and Japan have reported extremely high temperatures in July, expecting even hotter days in August.

According to Chinese media outlet CCTV, the average temperature last month stood at 73.78F, making it the top indicator since weather observations began in 1961.

Japan has registered the hottest July since the beginning of observations in 1898 for the second year in a row, with an average temperature of 35.88 °F higher than the monthly average for 1991-2020, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.

34 prefectures of the Asian nation have declared a state of emergency over the heat waves, the report says. In addition, 62 out of 153 Japan’s meteorological observation stations recorded their highest average temperatures for July.

According to the JMA, contributing factors to the unprecedented heat included a high-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean and warm air masses that covered eastern and western regions of the country, as well as Okinawa and Amami areas. Out of 153 meteorological observation stations nationwide, 62 reported their highest average temperatures for the month.