Japanese weather officials say it will be hotter than usual across the country from May to July.



The Meteorological Agency released its three-month forecast on Tuesday. It said a Pacific high pressure system will extend towards Japan as westerlies meander northward, and that warm air will tend to cover most of the country's main island.



Because of that and the effects of global warming, the average temperature in May is projected to be normal or higher than usual in northern to western Japan, and normal in the Okinawa and Amami regions.



The agency expects the average temperature to be higher than normal across the country in June and July.
But it said the possibility of record temperatures like those in July of last year is low, as El Nino is subsiding. This phenomenon refers to a situation when the ocean surface becomes warmer than usual near the equator off the South American country of Peru, and is cited as one of the factors for high atmospheric temperatures.



An official said the agency will start issuing heatstroke alerts from Wednesday. He also called on people to keep updated with the latest weather information and take measures against heatstroke, such as checking whether their air conditioners are properly working.



The agency also forecasts normal to higher than usual rainfall in the three-month period in northern Japan, which is likely to increase especially in June and July.



It projects normal rainfall for other areas of the country, but warns that rainfall could increase due to the effects of warm humid air flowing into the seasonal rain front.