Tokyo commuters and weekend travelers face a soaking rain and a high temperature plunging to 15°C on Thursday as Typhoon 31 approaches. Metropolitan areas saw a warm Halloween before winter conditions set in across northern prefectures, setting the stage for unstable autumn skies in the days ahead.
Tokyo Warmth Contrast
Metropolitan Tokyo experienced a mild Halloween as temperatures reached 25°C, marking the first time in 31 years the capital recorded a summer day on October 31.
Regions across Kyushu and the Kanto area enjoyed sunny skies and warm daytime conditions. Temperatures climbed to 27°C in Shizuoka and 26°C in Miyazaki and Kagoshima.
That warmth contrasted sharply with conditions further north. Winter-type pressure patterns brought rain and thunderstorms to northern Japan and the Hokuriku region.
Hokkaido recorded snow in lowland areas alongside winds reaching maximum instantaneous speeds of 30 meters per second. Sapporo saw its high drop from 17°C on Saturday down to 8°C as cold air swept southward.
Mid-Week Rain Across Kanto
High and low pressure systems will alternate across the Japanese archipelago early in the week, bringing rapid changes in conditions.
Following a Sunday with morning clouds giving way to sunshine, high temperatures reached near 20°C in Kanto. A front stretching from a low crossing northern Japan will trigger widespread rain and potential thunderstorms on Monday.
Tuesday brings a brief break as high pressure moves in, offering sunny intervals around Culture Day. Clouds will spread across southern districts by Wednesday ahead of a weather disturbance.
Typhoon 31 Approaches Japan
A system tied to Typhoon 31 threatens to deliver substantial rainfall across wide areas by Thursday.
The very strong storm moved through the Ogasawara waters maintaining its intensity. It generated high waves and dangerous swells along Pacific coasts and threatened the Ogasawara Islands with gale-force winds.
While the typhoon’s center is not expected to make a direct landfall, warm and humid air flowing into the front will generate active rain clouds over the mainland.
Thursday’s high temperature in central Tokyo is projected to plunge to 15°C—about 5°C below normal—forcing residents to trade light layers for heavy coats against the cold, sustained downpour.
Winter Preparations Begin
The atmospheric roller coaster continues late in the week before stabilizing temporarily.
Skies over Kanto are expected to clear. Friday and Saturday will bring autumn sunshine with daytime highs rebounding sharply to 23°C or 24°C—creating a 10-degree daily swing from the stormy Thursday conditions.
A winter-type pressure system will strengthen from Friday night through Saturday. It will drive strong winds and heavy snow along the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido and mountainous terrain.
Eastern and western Japan will also experience marked day-to-day temperature volatility. Tokyo’s high is forecasted to drop from 23°C on Friday to 15°C by Sunday, echoing the capital’s rare 25°C Halloween reading from 31 years prior.