Distant Thunder

In 2026, March 31st marks the start of the 12th micro season of the year and the last micro season of the fourth solar term of the year - shunbun. The twelfth micro season is known as Distant Thunder 雷乃発声 (koe o hassu). In 2026, it is on until April 4th (the dates change slightly some years).

Thunderstorms were forecast for today! It really amazes me how these ancient weather pattern predictors are eerily accurate. Other meteorological shifts you see in this micro season is the first warm, humid air masses pushing north, instability in the atmosphere and the beginning of convective clouds.

"Distant Thunder" is often when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Some poets wrote in days of yore that thunder "shakes open" the blossoms. But the downside is that there is often rain, after long dry spells, just as the sakura are reaching full bloom! And the rain can cut the period of bloom short. Such is nature!