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Weather & Climate in Matsushima, Japan
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Matsushima experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 254 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 45.1 inches. The area receives 3.5 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 66 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (0°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 52.5°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 33°F (0°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 254 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Area | 20.7 sq mi (53.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 791/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.3736°N, 141.0611°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Tokyo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
2,691 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M9.1.
| Mar 11, 2011 | 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan | M9.1 | 115 km | 29 km |
| Mar 16, 2022 | 57 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M7.3 | 86 km | 41 km |
| Apr 7, 2011 | 29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.1 | 47 km | 42 km |
| Feb 13, 2021 | 73 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M7.1 | 95 km | 44 km |
| Jul 19, 2008 | 107 km E of Namie, Japan | M7.0 | 136 km | 22 km |
| May 26, 2003 | 27 km SSW of ?funato, Japan | M7.0 | 69 km | 68 km |
| Oct 31, 2003 | 133 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.0 | 150 km | 10 km |
| Mar 20, 2021 | 30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.0 | 52 km | 43 km |
| Jun 13, 2008 | 24 km WSW of Mizusawa, Japan | M6.9 | 75 km | 8 km |
| May 1, 2021 | 30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan | M6.9 | 51 km | 43 km |
| May 12, 2015 | 32 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.8 | 103 km | 35 km |
| Mar 14, 2010 | 59 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M6.5 | 84 km | 32 km |
| Dec 2, 2001 | 3 km NW of Hanamaki, Japan | M6.5 | 114 km | 124 km |
| Jun 18, 2019 | 31 km WSW of Tsuruoka, Japan | M6.4 | 141 km | 12 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 30 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.4 | 98 km | 39 km |
| Apr 19, 2020 | 31 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.3 | 100 km | 38 km |
| Jul 24, 2011 | 43 km NE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 77 km | 40 km |
| Aug 4, 2019 | 61 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 83 km | 38 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 103 km E of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 127 km | 51 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 30 km NNE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 74 km | 32 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
16 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Jebi | Category 1 | 75 mph | 249 km |
| 2019 | Faxai | Category 2 | 92 mph | 174 km |
| 2019 | Hagibis | Category 1 | 75 mph | 67 km |
| 2005 | Mawar | Category 1 | 69 mph | 240 km |
| 2004 | Ma-on | Category 2 | 63 mph | 179 km |
| 2002 | Higos | Category 1 | 75 mph | 30 km |
| 2001 | Danas | Category 1 | 63 mph | 227 km |
| 2000 | Kirogi | Category 1 | 69 mph | 104 km |
| 2000 | Sonamu | Category 1 | 63 mph | 253 km |
| 1998 | Stella | Category 1 | 63 mph | 270 km |
| 1998 | Vicki | Category 1 | 58 mph | 145 km |
| 1996 | Violet | Category 1 | 81 mph | 204 km |
| 1995 | Oscar | Category 3 | 98 mph | 272 km |
| 1993 | Vernon | Category 1 | 69 mph | 136 km |
| 1981 | Thad | Category 1 | — | 277 km |
| 1981 | Gay | Category 1 | 75 mph | 262 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
20 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 39.3 m (129 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2011 | HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 39.3 m | 18,423 | 115 km |
| 1835 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 5.0 m | — | 90 km |
| 1861 | OFF MIYAGI | Earthquake | 3.9 m | — | 83 km |
| 2008 | ARATOZAWA, JAPAN | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.5 m | 23 | 75 km |
| 2016 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.4 m | — | 113 km |
| 1938 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 1.3 m | — | 117 km |
| 1897 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 79 km |
| 1804 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 450 | 122 km |
| 1959 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.8 m | — | 139 km |
| 1936 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.7 m | — | 101 km |
| 1978 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.6 m | 28 | 87 km |
| 1938 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.6 m | — | 142 km |
| 1981 | E. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | — | 150 km |
| 2003 | E. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.3 m | — | 150 km |
| 2022 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 0.3 m | 4 | 86 km |
| 2008 | OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 136 km |
| 1933 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 121 km |
| 2019 | NIIGATA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 142 km |
| 2021 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 1 | 92 km |
| 1927 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 98 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
14 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Naruko (49 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Naruko | Caldera | 470 m (1,542 ft) | 837 | 49 km |
| Zaozan [Zaosan] | Complex | 1,841 m (6,040 ft) | 1940 | 60 km |
| Kurikomayama | Stratovolcano | 1,627 m (5,338 ft) | 1950 | 70 km |
| Azumayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,949 m (6,394 ft) | 1977 | 101 km |
| Adatarayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,728 m (5,669 ft) | 1996 | 106 km |
| Chokaisan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,236 m (7,336 ft) | 1974 | 119 km |
| Bandaisan | Stratovolcano | 1,816 m (5,958 ft) | 1888 | 122 km |
| Akita-Komagatake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,637 m (5,371 ft) | 1971 | 156 km |
| Iwatesan | Complex | 2,038 m (6,686 ft) | 1919 | 165 km |
| Numazawa | Shield | 835 m (2,740 ft) | -3400 | 167 km |
| Nasudake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,915 m (6,283 ft) | 1963 | 169 km |
| Hachimantai | Stratovolcano | 1,613 m (5,292 ft) | -5350 | 177 km |
| Akita-Yakeyama | Stratovolcano | 1,366 m (4,482 ft) | 1997 | 179 km |
| Takaharayama | Stratovolcano | 1,795 m (5,889 ft) | -4570 | 199 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (0°C) | 1.6 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 33°F (1°C) | 2.0 in | |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 2.6 in | |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 64°F (18°C) | 5.0 in | |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 5.8 in | |
| August | 75°F (24°C) | 5.4 in | Warmest |
| September | 68°F (20°C) | 6.7 in | Wettest |
| October | 57°F (14°C) | 4.5 in | |
| November | 47°F (8°C) | 2.6 in | |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 1.6 in |
Matsushima has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 33°F in January to 75°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 45.1 inches, with September being the wettest month (6.7") and January the driest (1.6").