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Mount Fuji Experienced Its First Snowless October, And People’s Reactions Are Pretty Much What You’d Expect

Updated: 05-11-2024, 12.49 PM

Mount Fuji has had its first snowless October in 130 years.

Mount Fuji seen next to a misty lake reflecting the peak under a clear skyMount Fuji seen next to a misty lake reflecting the peak under a clear sky

Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images

As one of the world’s most famous active volcanoes and a cultural symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji has historically seen an average snowcapped peak starting Oct. 2 — with last year beginning on Oct. 5. However, due to the above-normal temperatures recorded by Japanese cities this fall, Fuji’s 12,000-foot peak has yet to be touched by snowfall.

A view of Mount Fuji with a photo of it in the foreground, showing the difference in conditions and colorsA view of Mount Fuji with a photo of it in the foreground, showing the difference in conditions and colors

Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP via Getty Images

According to Climate Central, at least 74 Japanese cities cited temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within the first week of October, which is unusually high compared to the 1990–2020 average. As climate analysts stated, human-made climate change made this uncommon weather pattern three times more likely.

  Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images  Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images

Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images

When X user (formerly Twitter) @NatStClair posted the news about Mount Fuji’s lack of snow this October, it garnered over 82 million views and 84,000 likes, sparking lots of discourse along the way.

X: @NatStClair / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via x.com

As expected, X users reacted in many ways, many centering on the effects and consequences of climate change and alluding to humanity’s impending doom. One person told everyone to “start looking for the love of your life who you are gonna die in the arms of in the next five years when then world ends.”

X: @yoongienthusias / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @yoongienthusias

One user put it a tad more bluntly:

X: @frankie_webp / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @frankie_webp

While this person kind of saw a silver lining:

X: @ItsSamG / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @ItsSamG

This X user’s single reaction to the news has over 17.4 million views:

X: @talleyberrybaby / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / HBO MAX / Via Twitter: @talleyberrybaby

Meanwhile, this person brought attention to the fact that it was Mount Fuji’s first snowless October in recorded history. This means there’s a chance that the volcano has not seen snow during this time for the first time ever.

X: @esjesjesj / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @esjesjesj

One user suggested we might need to stop all the AI usage:

X: @sweatpantspapi / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @sweatpantspapi

While this one spread the news about Mount Fuji in a more…unconventional way:

X: @hotboyyuuji / Nickelodeon / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @hotboyyuuji

Fortunately, according to a local forecaster run by the Japan Weather Association, Mount Fuji may expect snow around Nov. 7, 2024.

Snow-capped Mount Fuji with autumn leaves in the foregroundSnow-capped Mount Fuji with autumn leaves in the foreground

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Even so, Mount Fuji’s snowless October is yet another sign of the ramifications of climate change, which offers a far-from-optimistic feeling. As one X user noted, with many others echoing the same feeling, “We’re cooked I fear.”

X: @UncleNarco / Stringer/Kyodo News/Getty Images / Via Twitter: @UncleNarco

*Sigh* Don’t you love witnessing the potentially irreversible damage caused by climate change and global warming in real-time? What was your reaction after hearing about Mount Fuji’s snowless October? Let us know down in the comments.

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