Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak at 3,776 meters (12,460 feet), is experiencing an unprecedented lack of snow for this time of year, setting a historical record. As of now, the mountain remains snow-free longer into the autumn than has ever been recorded in the past 130 years, a concerning sign attributed to exceptionally warm weather patterns.
Typically, Mount Fuji begins to accumulate snow by early October; however, record temperatures during the summer have delayed any snowfall thus far. The first signs of snow typically appear around the 5th of October, but this year there has yet to be any, according to reports by the AFP news agency.
From June to August, Japan experienced a joint record hot summer, with temperatures averaging a staggering 1.76°C (35.1°F) above the norm. The warm weather persisted into September, influenced by the position of the sub-tropical jet stream, which has facilitated a flow of warm air over the region.
Last month, nearly 1,500 locations across Japan were classified as experiencing "extremely hot" days, with temperatures hitting or exceeding 35°C (95°F). Such warmth hampers the likelihood of precipitation turning into snow, as conditions must cool to around freezing.
While temperatures in October have shown a slight reduction, they remain above average, and the approach of November without any snowfall means this is the longest wait for a snowy Mt. Fuji summit since records began in 1894. The previous latest holdout for snow was noted on October 26 in both 1955 and 2016.
Mount Fuji, which famously overlooks the Japanese capital on clear days and boasts a rich cultural presence in historic artworks, continues to attract thousands of visitors. Last year, over 220,000 climbers ventured to its peak between July and September, underscoring the mountain's ecological and social significance as climate trends evolve.
