East Asia Regional Profile
Japan
Sensitive Rain Seasons
- Winter (December–February): Weaker Siberian High reduces sea-effect snowfall along the Sea of Japan coast.
- Summer / Baiu (June–August): Tendency for suppressed Pacific High strength, occasionally prolonging rainy front conditions.
Primary Environmental Hazards
- • Milder winter temperatures with reduced snowfall in ski resort regions along the Japan Sea
- • Shift in western Pacific typhoon genesis locations further eastward, influencing recurvature tracks
- • Occasional prolonged summer rainy front (Baiu) activity bringing localized heavy downpours
- • Warmer marine conditions affecting coastal fisheries and squid catches
Current 2026–27 El Niño Context for Japan
The developing strong 2026–27 El Niño points toward high probabilities of an above-average temperature winter across Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.
Major Monitored River Basins in Japan
Tone River Basin
35.88° N, 140.70° ELargest drainage area in Japan; vital flood protection and water supply for Tokyo.
Shinano River
37.92° N, 139.05° ELongest river in Japan; flows through Niigata into the Sea of Japan.
Monitored Cities in Japan
Select any city below for real-time temperature, 7-day rainfall forecasts, and live flood risk score:
Tokyo
35.7° N, 139.7° EOsaka
34.7° N, 135.5° EYokohama
35.4° N, 139.6° ENagoya
35.2° N, 136.9° ESapporo
43.1° N, 141.4° EFukuoka
33.6° N, 130.4° EKyoto
35.0° N, 135.8° EHistorical El Niño Events in Japan
1997–98 Event
Unusually mild winter followed by anomalous typhoon tracks in the northwest Pacific.
2015–16 Event
Exceptionally warm winter with scarce snow cover in central Honshu ski regions.
2023–24 Event
Hottest winter and summer on record in Japan, amplified by intense tropical Pacific warming.