Looks like we're in for a truncated autumn

If autumn is your favorite season in Japan like it is for me, this year may feel like a letdown. The Japan Meteorological Agency has announced that the country is set for a brief, uneven fall before plunging straight into winter.

After enduring the hottest summer on record, I'm sure that many of us were counting on crisp air and colorful foliage to mark a bit of a seasonal reset, but instead October is forecast to remain unseasonably hot, with days above 30°C still not out of the question.

Unfortunately, when the shift finally comes, it's expected to be abrupt, bringing a chill that feels more like early winter than fall. Here in Minamiuonuma we're basically in a valley, so the hot summer air lingers and winters mean we just get dumpings of snow. Autumn is usually my reprieve from those two seasons, but this year isn't looking great for that.

Climate experts are saying it's a combo of global warming and La Nina-like conditions in the Pacific, which have apparently shifted the jet stream northward and allowed warm air to dominate. By late November, cold air masses are expected to surge, making December noticeably colder than usual in many regions.