Japan’s Mount Fuji stays snowcap-free for longer than ever before

The volcano’s snowcap begins forming on October 2 on average, and last year snow was first detected there on October 5.

But because of warm weather, this year no snowfall has yet been observed on Japan’s highest mountain, said Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster at Kofu Local Meteorological Office.

That marks the latest date since comparative data became available in 1894, he said beating the previous record of October 26 – seen twice, in 1955 and then in 2016.

“Temperatures were high this summer, and these high temperatures continued into September, deterring cold air” which brings snow, Katsuta aid.

He agreed that climate change may have a degree of impact on the delay in the snowcap’s formation.