In Sendai, a Japanese city in the north-east of Honshu Island, in the region called Tohoku and in Miyagi Prefecture, at 38 degrees north latitude, the climate is
, with cold winters and warm, rainy summers. Like the rest of Japan, the city is affected by the
: in winter, the northwest cold currents will prevail, while in summer, they will be replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin (although to a lesser extent than in central and southern Japan).
, temperatures are low: in January and February, lows are slightly below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) and highs a few degrees above. Waves of intense cold are rare: usually, the temperature does not drop below -5 °C (23 °F), although the cold is fairly constant and the air is humid.
However, the coldest record in the city is -10 °C (14 °F), recorded in January 1967, while at the airport the temperature dropped to -11 °C (12 °F) in February 1990 and 1991.
is quite common, and sometimes abundant. An average of about 60 centimeters (23.5 inches) of snow fals per year, distributed in 60 days (in most cases, however, it is sleet or light snow).
, average temperatures are not too high, actually, during periods of bad weather, there is a cool northeast wind called
. However, in this season, sunny periods, with hot and humid conditions, can occur (though more rarely than in Tokyo), and alternate with periods of bad weather, with wind and rain.
is quite abundant, in fact, it amounts to 1,275 millimeters (50 inches) per year; winter is the driest season (at least in quantity, as drizzle or sleet often falls), while summer is the rainiest season because of the summer monsoon.
in Sendai is not exceptional: it is pretty good in winter (considering that the days are shorter), it reaches a relative maximum in spring, and then it declines in summer because of the monsoon.
in Sendai, cold in winter, becomes acceptable for swimming in August and September, while it is still cool in July.
From June to October (but especially from August to early October), Sendai may be affected by
The best time to visit Sendai is spring, and in particular the month of May, as it is a mild and less rainy period than autumn. It must be said that even in June the temperatures are often pleasant, and in certain periods also in July and August, although the latter are rainier and less sunny months.
(Sakura) in Sendai reaches its peak around April 13th, about two or three weeks later than in Tokyo. About a week passes between the beginning and the peak of the flowering. The blooming date can vary by a few days, or even a week, earlier or later, depending on the year. During this period, there can be slightly cold days, with highs of around 10 °C (50 °F), and occasionally it can even snow.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.2 °C, with a minimum of
-1.3 °C and a maximum of
5.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.3 °C in January 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
15.6 °C in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.7 °C, with a minimum of
-1.1 °C and a maximum of
6.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.5 °C in February 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
20.9 °C in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.7 °C, with a minimum of
1.4 °C and a maximum of
10 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.6 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
24.2 °C in March 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.9 °C, with a minimum of
6.3 °C and a maximum of
15.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.2 °C in April 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
29.9 °C in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
11.7 °C and a maximum of
20.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.8 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
32.1 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.6 °C, with a minimum of
16.1 °C and a maximum of
23.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.6 °C in June 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
145 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.4 °C, with a minimum of
20.2 °C and a maximum of
26.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.6 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
36.7 °C in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
180 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.9 °C, with a minimum of
21.6 °C and a maximum of
28.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
14.6 °C in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
37.3 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
160 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.5 °C, with a minimum of
18 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.2 °C in September 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
35.5 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
195 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.4 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.8 °C, with a minimum of
11.9 °C and a maximum of
19.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
2.7 °C in October 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
29.9 °C in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
150 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.8 °C, with a minimum of
5.6 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.6 °C in November 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
24 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.6 °C, with a minimum of
0.9 °C and a maximum of
8.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.4 °C in December 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
21.6 °C in December 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.