Mount Fuji has yet to receive any snowfall this year, marking the latest date on record for this occurrence in the past 130 years. Typically, Japan’s tallest mountain sees its first dusting of snow by early October, but this year has been marked by unusually warm weather, resulting in no snow at the summit so far. In 2023, the first snowfall was recorded on October 5th.

The summer of 2023 was particularly hot, sharing the title for Japan’s hottest summer ever, with temperatures from June to August averaging 1.76 degrees Celsius (3.1 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. This trend continued into September, where temperatures remained elevated due to a shift in the sub-tropical jet stream that allowed warmer air to flow into Japan from the south. The jet stream is a significant air current that can influence weather patterns when warm southern air interacts with cooler northern air.

Last month, nearly 1,500 locations across Japan experienced what the Meteorological Society defined as “extremely hot” days, where temperatures reached or surpassed 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). For snow to form, temperatures need to drop to around freezing; although October has brought some relief from the heat, it remains warmer than usual.

As November approaches without any sign of snow on Mount Fuji, this situation represents the longest wait for a snow-capped summit since records began in 1894. Previously, the latest snowfall occurred on October 26th in both 1955 and 2016, according to Yutaka Katsuta from the Kofu Local Meteorological Office.

Standing at 3,776 meters (12,460 feet), Mount Fuji is not only Japan’s highest peak but also an iconic symbol visible from Tokyo on clear days. The volcano last erupted over three centuries ago and continues to be a vital part of Japan’s natural landscape and cultural heritage.