Mount Fuji has had its first snowless October in 130 years.
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.
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.
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.”
stop looking for a job and 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 https://t.co/jsdSwofuj4
— s (@yoongienthusias) October 31, 2024
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.
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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