日本の広い範囲で梅雨明け、厳しい暑さに

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July eighteenth. The rainy season is ending early across much of Japan, and a serious heat wave is on the way, so today's story is about staying safe in the summer heat. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

In Japan right now, very hot days are continuing. In western Japan, the rainy season ended on July eighth.

It means the rainy season.

The rainy season is the wet time of year that continues from around June. This year the rainy season ended about eleven days earlier than usual.

It means a season.

On July sixteenth, the weather agency issued an early warning about high temperatures. Almost all of Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, is covered by it.

It means the Japan Meteorological Agency, the office that studies and announces the weather.

For about the next month, temperatures are expected to be much higher than in a normal year. It may become heat of a once-in-ten-years level.

It means a forecast or a prediction.

Especially from around the end of July, the intense heat will reach its peak. In places like Nagoya, the high temperature may even climb close to forty degrees on some days.

It means severe, intense heat.

Nights when the temperature does not drop below twenty-five degrees will increase, making it harder to rest the body.

It means a tropical night, when it stays above twenty-five degrees even after dark.

When it is this hot, the worry is heatstroke. The weather agency is urging people to drink water often and to rest.

It means heatstroke, when the body gets sick from too much heat.

Right now is just the time when children's summer vacation is beginning. When they play outside, it is important not to overdo it.

It means summer vacation.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

On July eighth — about eleven days earlier than a normal year.

Temperatures much higher than usual — possibly a once-in-ten-years level of heat.

Heatstroke — drink water often, rest, and don't overdo it outside.

That's all for today. The rainy season has ended early across much of Japan, and the weather agency warns of possibly once-in-a-decade heat over the next month, peaking near the end of July. With summer vacation starting, remember to drink water often, rest, and use the air conditioner wisely. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.