1.
warm spell; (warm) heat wave (meteorology)
A meteorological term for a period of unseasonably warm air flowing into a region, causing temperatures well above normal for several days. Used in weather forecasts and climate reports as the counterpart of 寒波 (cold wave).
暖波が到来する。
A warm spell is arriving.
今週は暖波の影響で気温が高い。
Temperatures are high this week due to the influence of a warm spell.
記録的な暖波により、桜の開花が例年より早まった。
Due to a record-breaking warm spell, the cherry blossoms bloomed earlier than usual.
気象庁は来週、日本列島に強い暖波が流れ込むと発表した。
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that a strong warm spell will flow into the Japanese archipelago next week.
Composed of 暖 (warm) and 波 (wave). Formed as the direct antonym of 寒波 (cold wave), though it is far less common than its opposite because Japan's winters more often make news for cold snaps.
USAGE:
A meteorological term used in weather forecasts, newspaper weather columns, and climate-change discussions. It refers specifically to unseasonably warm air masses — typically in winter or early spring. For a hot spell in the middle of summer, 熱波 is the usual word. In casual conversation people simply say 暖かい日が続く (warm days continue) rather than using 暖波.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 暖波が到来する: a warm spell arrives
- 暖波が流れ込む: a warm spell flows in
- 記録的な暖波: a record-breaking warm spell
- 暖波の影響: the influence of a warm spell
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 寒波: cold wave — the direct antonym, much more frequently used
- 熱波: heat wave — the word for extreme heat, especially a deadly summer heat wave
- 暖冬: warm winter — describes a whole season, not a short-term event
- 異常気象: abnormal weather — a broader term that may include warm spells among other anomalies