Japan registers sweltering heat of 107.24 degrees Fahrenheit
In recent times, Asia has been grappling with increasingly frequent and severe heat waves. Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam are among the countries experiencing these intense heat events, with Japan recording a new heat record of 41.8 degrees Celsius in Isesaki, surpassing the previous record in the Hyogo region of 41.2 C set last week.
Last month, 38,608 people were treated in hospital for heatstroke in Japan, a decrease from 43,195 in July 2024. The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November. Precipitation in July was low over wide areas of Japan, with northern regions facing the Sea of Japan experiencing record low rainfall. Last week, Kyoto saw a record-breaking temperature of 40 C.
South Korea, too, has been experiencing soaring temperatures. In July 2025, the country recorded its second-hottest month on record, with an average temperature of 27.1 C, falling short of the record set in 1994 (27.7 C). In northern Vietnam, 17 places across seven provinces reported record highs for August. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, experienced its first-ever August day above 40 C on Monday.
Vietnam, located in Southeast Asia, is also part of the region undergoing rapid warming which fuels heat wave intensity, along with threats to water security from melting glaciers upstream. South Korea is also experiencing similar issues, with some dams and paddies in Japan and South Korea experiencing a water shortage due to the lack of rain and the sizzling heat.
Scientific studies underline that climate change is increasing the likelihood and severity of intense heat waves due to rising greenhouse gas concentrations, altering atmospheric circulation patterns, and ocean warming. These changes disrupt monsoon patterns and enhance heat extremes, directly impacting human health, agriculture, and infrastructure across these countries.
The continent of Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, with this trend strongly linked to ongoing climate change caused by human activities affecting land, ocean temperatures, and atmospheric conditions. This accelerated warming trend has intensified in the past two to three decades, driven by climate change, and is associated with record high sea surface temperatures in adjacent oceans, exacerbating extreme heat events.
In Europe, the heat has been just as relentless. Western Europe saw its hottest June on record in 2025, with extreme temperatures in back-to-back heat waves. Millions were exposed to high heat stress as daily average temperatures in western Europe climbed to levels rarely seen before - and never so early in the summer. Dangerous weather in western Europe in June made the temperature up to 4 C hotter, pushing the thermometer into deadly territory for thousands of vulnerable people and greatly worsening the projected death toll.
As the world continues to warm, it is crucial for countries to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change. This includes improving infrastructure to handle extreme weather events, promoting renewable energy sources, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By taking action now, we can help ensure a safer and more sustainable future for generations to come.
- The increasing frequency and severity of heat waves in Asia, as seen in countries like Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, are often linked to environmental science issues, particularly climate change, which alters weather patterns and enhances heat extremes.
- The rapid warming in Asia, including regions such as Vietnam and South Korea, is not only affecting the climate-change discourse in science but also posing immediate challenges to human health, agriculture, and infrastructure due to the associated heat waves and water security threats.
