This summer appears set to become one of Tokyo's hottest on record after Monday marked the 66th day this season that temperatures in the capital have soared above 30, the Meteorological Agency said.
The summer of 2000 now shares the record with 1961 and 1994 for number of days at 30 or higher. What is more, the agency predicts that today's high will reach the benchmark temperature to set a new record.
The 66 days is nearly 1.5 times higher than average for the metropolis.
The first of them was recorded May 30, with the year's hottest -- 37.8 -- recorded on Sept. 2, the agency said.
Tokyo's sweltering summer has largely been the result of weak activity in a seasonal rain front, the agency said.