The average temperature in Japan between June and August was the highest since records began in 1898, breaking the previous record set in 1994 and exceeding the average between 1971 and 2000 by 1.64 degrees, the Meteorological Agency said Wednesday.
Average temperatures at 61 of the nation's 154 meteorological observatories, including those in Tokyo, Sapporo and Sendai, set or equaled record highs in the three-month period.
The nationwide average is based on temperatures observed at 17 points where long-term records have been preserved and the locations of observatories have not undergone major shifts.
On Wednesday, temperatures set or equaled record highs for the month of September at 242 locations across the country, with temperatures at three points setting or equaling all-time highs.
Of 921 locations where temperatures were measured, 789 logged 30 degrees or higher and 157 recorded 35 degrees or higher. The summer heat was particularly intense in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, at 38.3, Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, at 37.9 and Obama, Fukui Prefecture, at 37.4.