富士山で初冠雪、今年から新しい方法で観測

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. On October thirtieth, Mount Fuji got its first snowcap of the season, and this year it was measured in a new way. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down.

When snow piles up on top of a mountain for the first time in the season and it looks white, there is a special word for it: the first snowcap.

It means snow.

It means to pile up, like snow on the ground.

On October thirtieth, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the first snowcap on Mount Fuji.

It means to announce.

At eight in the morning, one centimeter or more of snow had piled up near the top of the mountain.

It means one centimeter or more.

Until last year, staff at the weather office in Kofu decided by looking at the mountain with their own eyes.

It means to decide.

From this year, they decide using data from radar and satellites.

With the new method, they can know about the snow even on cloudy days or at night.

It means a method or way of doing something.

It means night.

Last year's first snowcap came on October twenty-third, and in a usual year it comes around October second.

This year, the first snowcap came very late.

It means late.

At a parking lot partway up the mountain, visitors from other countries were taking photos of the white mountain.

It means to take a photo.

A visitor from the Philippines said it was the first time seeing snow on Mount Fuji.

It means for the first time.

Now listen to the full story again.

Quiz time. Listen and answer.

October thirtieth.

Data from radar and satellites.

Around October second.

That's all for this morning. Stay warm, and thanks for listening. See you next time.