The rainy season is believed to have started in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region, including Tokyo, as well as Hokuriku along the Sea of Japan and southern Tohoku, the Meteorological Agency said Saturday.

The annual meteorological phenomenon began one day later than average in Kanto-Koshinetsu and three days earlier in Hokuriku and the southern Tohoku region, the agency said.

Cloudy and rainy weather is expected to continue in the three regions over the next six weeks, according to the agency.

In an average year, the rainy season lasts until around July 21 in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region and through July 24 in Hokuriku. In southern Tohoku it runs until July 25.