Wed Nov 06 04:38:16 UTC 2024: ## Mount Fuji Finally Gets its Snowcap After Record-Breaking Delay
**Fuji City, Japan** – Mount Fuji, Japan’s iconic peak, has finally received its first snowfall of the season after a record-breaking delay, marking the latest arrival of snow since records began in 1894. Photos shared by local authorities and residents showed a thin layer of snow covering the summit, bringing an end to the mountain’s longest-ever stint with bare slopes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has not yet officially confirmed a new record due to cloudy conditions near its monitoring station in Kofu City. However, photographs taken from other locations around the volcano, where skies were clear, provided clear evidence of the snow covering the peak.
“Finally, the first snow cover! Mount Fuji looks good with snow,” posted a nursing home in Fuji City, reflecting the sentiment of many across the region.
The snow usually begins forming on Mount Fuji around October 2, with last year’s first snowfall occurring on October 5. The previous record for the latest snowfall was October 26, set in both 1955 and 2016.
A JMA official in Kofu attributed the delayed snowfall to warmer-than-average temperatures in October, a potential impact of global warming. Japan experienced its joint hottest summer on record this year, with extreme heatwaves affecting many parts of the globe.
Despite the delayed snowfall, the temperature is currently low enough for the snow to stay put for now. This means the mountain’s famous snowcap will be back in place just in time for the hiking season, which runs from July to September. During this period, more than 220,000 visitors hike the steep, rocky slopes of Mount Fuji to witness the sunrise from its 3,776-meter summit.
Mount Fuji, a symmetrical peak immortalised in art, last erupted around 300 years ago. The mountain’s snow-covered slopes are a cherished part of Japan’s natural beauty and a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists.
First Piper 