Central Tokyo recorded rain for the 36th consecutive day on Thursday, October 1, surpassing the previous record of 33 straight rainy days set between June 27 and July 29, 2019. Japan’s rainfall records for the location date back to 1886.

Rain has been recorded every day since August 27 at the Japan Meteorological Agency’s central Tokyo observation site.

The prolonged rainfall has also pushed September precipitation toward historic levels. Central Tokyo had received 629 millimeters, or about 24.8 inches, of rain through Wednesday, nearly three times the normal rainfall for the entire month and approaching the September record of 670.9 millimeters set in 1958.

The heaviest rainfall of the current streak came September 21, when 156 millimeters, or about 6.1 inches, fell in central Tokyo. The wet conditions have extended well beyond the capital, affecting areas from Hokkaido to Kyushu as a stationary autumn rain front stretches across Japan.

In Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, more than 30 millimeters of rain fell within a single hour early Tuesday. The unusually cloudy and wet conditions have also reduced sunshine hours, prompting weather officials to advise farmers to take additional precautions with crops.

Officials have attributed the persistent weather to a combination of an autumn rain front, low-pressure systems and tropical weather near Japan. A Japan Meteorological Agency official also said El Niño had contributed to the unusual weather pattern, while a Pacific high-pressure system has remained in place longer than normal.

The weather agency has not directly attributed Tokyo's 36-day rainfall streak to climate change, although it has previously reported that global warming is affecting Japan's long-term weather patterns, including an increase in precipitation.

More rain is expected through Friday in parts of eastern Japan, including Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. Recent heavy rainfall has already destabilized some hillsides and damaged levees, with authorities warning that additional rain could increase the risk of landslides and other disasters.

A tropical storm south of Japan is also expected to move closer to the Izu Islands, potentially bringing strong winds, high waves and rough seas as the unusually wet stretch continues.