Blazing hot temperatures were recorded across a wide swath of Japan from the Tohoku to Kyushu regions on Monday, with the mercury topping 38 degrees Celsius in parts of the Kanto and Tokai areas.

People were advised to remain vigilant and stay indoors whenever possible as the country marked Marine Day, a national holiday, after the government issued heatstroke alerts in 32 of the nation¡¯s 47 prefectures, affecting tens of millions of people.

The figure was the largest yet for a single day this year, local media reported.

In Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, the mercury hit 39.1 C, while Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture, reported a high of 38.8 C, the weather agency said. Highs of 38.7 C and 38.3 C were reported in the Gifu Prefecture cities of Tajimi and Mino, respectively.

A so-called extremely hot day, on which the temperature hits 35 C or higher, was observed at 195 locations across the country, setting a record for the year for the second day in a row, according to the Meteorological Agency.

In central Tokyo, the temperature rose at a fast pace from the morning, hitting 30 C by 7 a.m., marking only the fifth time in the past 20 years that temperatures of 30 C or higher were observed at 7 a.m. in July in the area, the Japan Weather Association said.

For most of Monday afternoon, the temperature in central Tokyo hovered around 35 C, according to the Meteorological Agency.

The agency said a high pressure system over the Pacific was continuing to strengthen Monday, resulting in clear skies and high temperatures across the country.

With dangerously high temperatures forecast to continue for at least another day, people were urged to take precautions to avoid heatstroke, including using air conditioners and drinking water regularly ¡ª even when not thirsty.

Japan recorded its highest temperature ever ¡ª 41.1 C ¡ª in 2018 in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, a figure that was matched in 2020 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.

The scorching temperatures come after the Tohoku region was lashed by torrential rains over the weekend, triggering landslides and floods that left one person dead.

With Japan¡¯s rainy season nearing its end, a looming storm front may again bring heavy rains to some areas of Tohoku between Tuesday and Thursday, as well as the Hokuriku region between Wednesday and Thursday, the weather agency said, warning of the possibility of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers.