日本の天気

Being an island country, the weather patterns in Japan are quite interesting. The north-most region of the country (Hokkaido) is in the same latitude as Illinois and Wisconsin, while the South-most region lines up with Texas. However, the differences in weather throughout the two poles seem to be quite drastic due to it's proximity to the two seas (Pacific and sea of Japan). 

Overall, there are 4 distinct seasons in Japan that are characterized by different types of weather. In the spring, the temperatures are relatively temperate, and rain/snow are not as frequent. However, for summer, there is a quite drastic shift in the weather as June/July rolls around, and summer arrives. The temperature goes up to 30-42˚C as the main island enters a period of rainy weather called つゆ. However, in the northern island of Hokkaido, the rain and temperature are milder during the summer compared to the rest of the country.

Autumn starts from mid September and lasts until late November, and during this time the temperature decreases to around 10-20˚C. The leaves change colour and the weather becomes drier as winter approaches. 

During winter, the island experiences a gradient of snowfall. For example, a southern city like Fukuoka may only have 1-2cm of snow a year, while a northern city like Sapporo can experience over 6 meters of snow during that same winter.