Mercury tops 35 C in some parts of Japan during holiday

TOKYO, July 19 Kyodo -
The mercury exceeded 35 C in various places across Japan on Monday, the Japan
Meteorological Agency said, warning vacationers of possible heat stroke as they
rushed home on the last day of a three-day weekend.
The highest temperature as of 4:10 p.m. was logged in Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture
in southwestern Japan at 36.8 C, as strong sunshine heated up the warm air that
was already blowing in, according to the agency.
Other areas that recorded high temperatures included Tatebayashi in Gunma
Prefecture in eastern Japan at 36.7 C, followed by 36.6 C in Kusu and Hita,
both in Oita Prefecture and Daigo in Ibaraki Prefecture, and 36.4 C in Tokyo's
Nerima Ward and the city of Saitama.
Traffic congestion apparently due to a return rush by vacationers was observed
on some expressway sections, such as a 40-kilometer jam around the Tomei
Expressway's Yamato tunnel in Kanagawa Prefecture as of 4:30 p.m., the Japan
Road Traffic Information Center said.
==Kyodo