People across Japan are bracing for another sunny and hot day. Dangerously high temperatures are expected in parts of the Tokai and Kanto regions on Wednesday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system over areas from western to northern Japan will bring clear skies and high temperatures, starting in the morning.

The daytime high is expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius in the cities of Nagoya, Gifu, Saitama, Maebashi and Kofu. The high could reach 37 degrees in central Tokyo, Kyoto and Kumamoto. In Osaka, Fukushima and Okayama, the mercury is likely to hit 36 degrees.

The Meteorological Agency and Environment Ministry have issued heatstroke alerts for the prefectures of Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Shiga, Osaka, Hyogo, Wakayama, Hiroshima, Shimane, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Oita, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, as well as Okinawa's Yaeyama region.

The heat is expected to continue for a while.

The high temperatures are expected to continue in northern Japan through Monday, in eastern and western Japan through Tuesday, and in the Okinawa region from Friday through Sunday.

Weather forecasters say northern and western Japan will see temperatures of 35 degrees or higher.

The number of people rushed to hospitals with suspected heatstroke has been surging since early July. Some deaths have been reported.

Many people are falling ill indoors. People are advised to use air conditioners and drink fluids frequently, even if they are not thirsty.

People engaged in outdoor activities are advised to take regular breaks.