The majority of folks I’ve talked to about this doubt it. But finally rainy season is just about upon us and temperatures have risen – there is always a glimmer of hope, isn’t there?! A handful of tentative reports have proposed the possibility that this summer will be a little less intense than the last three. Predicting the weather in Japan is a lot more difficult than in most continental places. There are so many forces on it so this whole process may well just be wishful thinking!
But, alas there is hope. Let’s examine the facts. Firstly, we had a notably colder winter this past season. It wasn’t that the temperatures were necessarily that cold, but the number of cold days and the overall length of the past winter were both above the norm. Secondly, as a result of the former, the spring was much slower in coming and the warm weather has been reluctant to take hold. We saw this manifest itself in the later-than-usual cherry blossom season and now much more recently in the sudden death of most of the azaleas around Kansai. That beautiful blase of fuscia pink the azaleas are famous for just didn’t quite make it this year, unfortunately. What a shame. Now that warmer weather is here, the little yama azaleas are doing much better.
Still, for all that we may well get at least two respites this summer. Firstly, it is expected that the rainy season, at least in Kansai, will be a little drier than average. That means fewer wet days as well as less precipitation over all. It also means that there is an increased likelihood of getting somewhat lower maximum temperatures. While this may only mean 38 degrees instead of 40, it would still reduce the pressure on the power grid and make our days easy to get through! And a lot easier for Kansai Denki!
Time will tell!
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Owner, Smith’s Franchise in Kotoen
Rick says
Maybe you’re on to something, Martin–high of 21 C today in Kyoto. That’s April weather for the uninitiated….
Rick
スミス英会話長岡京校
Martin says
Yep, a low of 17 in Kotoen up against the mountain. People were wearing coats! Then there was me still with the Smith’s T on! Ha HA
Martin