34 days of rain: Tokyo breaks a record that stood since the start of modern records

Tokyo has not experienced a single dry day since August 27. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the city center recorded its 34th consecutive day of rain on Tuesday, marking the longest such streak since records began in 1886, surpassing the previous record of 33 days from June 27 to July 29, 2019.

This does not mean that heavy rain fell every day; the record also includes days with only light drizzle. However, the cumulative impact was significant: central Tokyo received 629 millimeters of rain in September alone, up to Monday—nearly three times the monthly average and the second-highest total for the month since 1875, approaching the record of 670.9 millimeters set in 1958.

Sunshine was also scarce: there were only 46.8 hours of sunlight during the month, just 36% of the usual amount, with 14 consecutive days without any sun at all. The effects extended to agriculture, as a farmers’ cooperative in Nagano Prefecture reported that grapes and pears were less sweet this year.

Meteorologists attribute the prolonged rainfall to two typhoons that hit the region, a stalled autumn rain front, and an anticyclone over the Pacific Ocean that persisted longer than usual.

Rain is expected to continue through Thursday as a new typhoon approaches.