After an unusually long wait, Mount Fuji has finally been covered with snow. The delay aligns with the trend of rising global temperatures, which has led to an increase in hot temperatures. However, a recent drop in the weather has allowed the iconic mountain to regain its winter charm again.
The city of Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture shared images of the snow-capped mountain on X, showcasing a thin layer of snow near the summit. Numerous photos and videos capturing the winter scene surfaced on the internet. A satellite captured images of Mount Fuji covered in snow on November 7 – just one day after local weather officials first reported snowfall on the mountain.
While meteorologists caution against drawing definitive conclusions from a single event, the trend of delayed snowfall on Mount Fuji in recent years is a cause for concern. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Mount Fuji holds significant cultural and environmental value. The return of snow is a welcome sight, reminding everyone – of the beauty and fragility of the planet.
“It’s unprecedented,” said Takefumi Sakaki, an official from Fujiyoshida City. “We’ve never experienced a November without snow on Mount Fuji. It feels quite unusual,” he added, reports the New York Times.
The first snowfall after a long time 🥹
Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak, has seen its first snowfall after one of the longest periods without snow since records began 130 years ago.
This @CopernicusEU #Sentinel2 image was captured on 7 November, just one day after snow was… pic.twitter.com/gwA4SRwbqr
— ESA Earth Observation (@ESA_EO) November 7, 2024
