Japan's Mount Fuji remained snowless as of Monday—the latest date its majestic slopes have been bare since records began 130 years ago, according to the weather agency.
Typically, the volcano's snowcap begins forming around October 2 on average, and last year, snow was first detected on October 5. However, due to warm weather, no snowfall has yet been observed on Japan's highest mountain this year, said Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster at the Kofu Local Meteorological Office.
This marks the latest date since comparative data became available in 1894, surpassing the previous record of October 26, which occurred in both 1955 and 2016.
"Temperatures were high this summer, and these elevated temperatures continued into September, preventing the arrival of the cold air that brings snow," Katsuta told AFP.
He acknowledged that climate change may have played a role in the delay of the snowcap's formation.
Japan's summer this year was tied for the hottest on record, matching the levels seen in 2023, as extreme heat-waves driven by climate change affected many parts of the globe.
Mount Fuji is typically covered in snow for most of the year, but during the July-September hiking season, more than 220,000 visitors trek up its steep, rocky slopes.
Many climbers ascend through the night to witness the sunrise from the 3,776-meter (12,388-foot) summit.
However, fewer climbers tackled Mount Fuji this year after Japanese authorities introduced an entry fee and a daily cap on visitor numbers to combat overtourism.
The symmetrical mountain has been immortalized in countless artworks, including Hokusai's "Great Wave."
It last erupted around 300 years ago.
(Source:AFP)
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
