Weather officials say most regions in Japan logged record-high average temperatures for March this year.

The Meteorological Agency released a report on weather trends in March on Monday.

It notes average temperatures in checkpoints from northern to western Japan were higher than the norm by two to three degrees Celsius, making this March the warmest since record-keeping began in 1946.

This is mainly due to warm southerly winds that hovered over much of the archipelago, while cold air flowing in from the nearby continent lacked its normal seasonal strength.

The average temperatures in the northern cities of Sapporo and Sendai in March were 3.8 degrees higher than the norm. Likewise, the figures in central Tokyo and Nagoya were 3.5 degrees higher, and in Osaka, 3.1 degrees, and Fukuoka, 2.8 degrees.

The figures were higher in 114 checkpoints out of 153 across Japan.

By region, the average temperatures in northern and eastern Japan were up 3.4 degrees, a record high, while in western Japan, the rise of 2.6 degrees tied the record of March 2021.

The average temperature in Okinawa and Amami Islands region in southwestern Japan was also higher by 0.8 degrees.

Agency officials say temperatures in the April to June quarter are expected to be high mainly in northern Japan. They are calling on the public to watch out for avalanches in snowy areas as the warm weather will melt the snow.