NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) Okinawa and Amami Island in Kagoshima Prefecture have apparently entered the rainy season, local meteorological observatories said Thursday.
This is the third-latest date for Okinawa since such statistics were first compiled in 1951. It was 14 days later than average and six days later than last year.
The Amami area entered the season 12 days later than average.
The Okinawa Meteorological Observatory attributed the delay to the late formation of the seasonal rain front under the influence of a high pressure system over the Pacific.