Ever since they started taking records in 1876, there has always been snow in Tokyo by February 10–the latest recorded snowfall being February 10, 1960.

Not this year. It’s February 11, no snowfall in Tokyo so far, and today’s low was 7 degrees Celsius (45º Fahrenheit), with a high of 14º C (57º F). The forecast for the next week at least shows little change, and no chance of snow foreseen. We might go without snow at all this season, and I’ve heard that the skiing industry up north ain’t having too much of a fun time.

Over the past several years, the first snow has come in December or January. On December 9, 2002, it came just as I was leaving for the U.S., and trains were shut down in much of Tokyo–including the Narita Express–almost preventing me from getting to Narita for my departure.

So, what’s the cause? Everyone is thinking global climate change, and it might just be so. But the better test for that would be in snow not falling in Tokyo for several years. Still, it’s strange not getting at least one snowfall.