Western Japan got a brief respite from its record dry spell Friday, but water levels in many reservoirs are way below normal, and the region could face a serious drought if more rainfall fails to arrive, experts have warned.
It is supposed to be the height of the rainy season, but western Japan -- including Shikoku and the Chugoku and Tokai regions -- witnessed unusually little rain in June.
According to the Meteorological Agency, the area last month posted its lowest rainfall and highest temperatures since 1946, with precipitation 34 percent below average.