A recent report highlights significant changes in winter weather patterns in the city of Fuji, located at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan. Over the past decade, the city has lost more than one month of winter days annually due to global warming.
This finding is based on a study conducted by a US-based climate research organization, Climate Central, which analyzed data from 901 Northern Hemisphere cities.
The findings of this report reflect a broader trend where approximately 44% of the cities analyzed globally have lost an average of a week or more of winter days due to climate change. Europe is noted as the fastest-warming continent, experiencing changes at double the global average since the 1980s
Key Findings
- Increase in Winter Days Above Freezing: Between 2014 and 2023, Fuji experienced an average increase of 35 winter days above 0°C each year, the highest among the cities studied.
- Delayed Snowfall: Mt. Fuji recorded its first snowcap of the season on November 7, 2024, marking the latest onset of snow since records began in 1894.
- Wider Impact Across Japan: The study found that over half of the 57 Japanese cities analyzed also saw an increase in winter days above freezing, with notable examples being Nagaoka and Kyoto, which gained 23 and 21 days, respectively
The report warns that these warmer winters could lead to several ecological and societal challenges:
- Water Shortages: Reduced mountain snowpack may threaten water supplies.
- Increased Pests: Warmer conditions can lead to higher populations of disease-carrying pests like mosquitoes and ticks.
- Need for Action: The organization emphasizes the urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to mitigate these warming trends, which not only disrupt seasonal patterns but also diminish their ecological benefits year-round.