Editing Fukushima (city) (section)

==Geography==
{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Neighboring cities, towns, and places'''
|Northwest = [[Yonezawa, Yamagata|Yonezawa]]
|North = [[Koori, Fukushima|Koori]]
|Northeast = [[Date, Fukushima|Date]]
|West = [[Mt. Azuma]]
|Centre = Fukushima City
|East = [[Sōma, Fukushima|Sōma]]
|Southwest = [[Mt. Adatara]]
|South = [[Nihonmatsu, Fukushima|Nihonmatsu]]
|Southeast = [[Kawamata, Fukushima|Kawamata]]
}}

Fukushima is located in the central northeast section of Fukushima Prefecture, approximately {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} east of [[Lake Inawashiro]], {{convert|250|km|abbr=on}} north of [[Tokyo]], and about {{convert|80|km|abbr=on}} south of Sendai. It lies between the [[Ōu Mountains]] to the west and the [[Abukuma Highlands]] to the east. Most of the city is within the southeast area and nearby mountains of the Fukushima Basin. [[Mt. Azuma]] and [[Mt. Adatara]] loom over the city from the west and southwest, respectively

In the north, Fukushima is adjacent to the [[Miyagi Prefecture]] cities of [[Shiroishi, Miyagi|Shiroishi]] and [[Shichikashuku, Miyagi|Shichikashuku]]. In the northwest, Fukushima borders the [[Yamagata Prefecture]] cities of [[Yonezawa, Yamagata|Yonezawa]] and [[Takahata, Yamagata|Takahata]]. Within Fukushima Prefecture, to the south of Fukushima is the town of [[Nihonmatsu, Fukushima|Nihonmatsu]], to the east are [[Kawamata, Fukushima|Kawamata]] and [[Date, Fukushima|Date]], and to the north is [[Koori, Fukushima|Koori]].<ref name=fukushima-toshiken />{{Dead link|date=August 2024}}

===Terrain===
[[File:20091011 Fukushima Basin tagged.jpg|thumb|left|An aerial photo of a portion of Fukushima Basin, facing south. The Ōu Mountains can be seen along the right side of the image. Mt. Shinobu can be seen in the center-left as the mountain surrounded by the city, with the Abukuma River flowing south–north to the east (left) of Mt. Shinobu. To the north (bottom) of Mt. Shinobu is the Matsukawa River flowing east (left) into the Abukuma River. A little south (above) of Mt. Shinobu the Arakawa River also flows east (left) into the Abukuma River.]]
[[File:Arakawa River (Fukushima City).jpg|thumb|left|The Arakawa River flowing through Fukushima]]
The Fukushima Basin is created by the surrounding Ōu Mountains in the west and the Abukuma Highlands in the east, with the [[Abukuma River]] flowing through the center of the basin, from south to north. Multiple [[tributaries]] to the Abukuma River source in the Ōu Mountains before flowing down into Fukushima, namely the [[Surikami River|Surikami]], [[Matsukawa River|Matsukawa]], and [[Arakawa River (Fukushima)|Arakawa]] rivers. These rivers flow eastward through the western side of the city until joining up with the Abukuma River in the central parts of the city. The irrigation from these rivers were formerly used for the cultivation of [[Morus (plant)|mullberry trees]]; however, in the latter half of the 20th century cultivation was switched from focusing on mullberry trees, and instead growing a variety of fruit orchards.

The highest point within the city limits is [[Mt. Higashi-Azuma]], a {{convert|1974|m|abbr=on}} peak of Mt. Azuma, located on the western edge of the city. The lowest point is the neighborhood of {{Nihongo|Mukaisenoue|向瀬上}}, which is in the northeastern part of the city and has an elevation of {{convert|55|m|abbr=on}}. Mt. Shinobu, {{convert|276|m|abbr=on}} a [[monadnock]], lies in the southeastern section of the Fukushima Basin and is a symbol of the city.

The Abukuma River flows south to north through the central area of Fukushima and joins with many tributaries on its journey through the city. The Arakawa River originates from Mt. Azuma and flows eastward, eventually flowing into the Abukuma River near the city center. The Matsukawa River, which flows eastward from its origin in Mt. Azuma and also joins with the Abukuma River in the northern part of the city. Another major tributary of the Abukuma River is the Surikami River, which originates along the Fukushima-Yamagata prefectural border near the Moniwa area in the northwest of the city. From there it flows into Lake Moniwa, a [[reservoir]] created by the [[Surikamigawa Dam]]. From there it continues flowing southeast before meeting up with the Abukuma River in northern Fukushima, thus completing its {{convert|32|km|abbr=on}} run.

Other tributaries of the Abukuma River which flow within Fukushima are the {{Nihongo|Kohata|木幡川}}, {{Nihongo|Megami|女神川}}, {{Nihongo|Mizuhara|水原}}, {{Nihongo|Tatsuta|立田川}}, {{Nihongo|Shimoasa|下浅川}}, {{Nihongo|Tazawa|田沢川}}, {{Nihongo|Iri|入川}}, {{Nihongo|Ōmori|大森川}}, and {{Nihongo|Hattanda|八反田川}} rivers. The {{Nihongo|Oguni River|小国川}} also flows through the city and is a tributary of the {{Nihongo|Hirose River|広瀬川}}, which itself is also a tributary of the Abukuma River, however the Oguni River does not meet up with the Hirose River until the district of [[Date, Fukushima|Date]], outside of the Fukushima city limits.

[[File:Goshikinuma-azuma 0810.JPG|thumb|''Goshiki-numa'', a crater lake at the Azuma Mountain Range's Mt. Issaikyō peak]]

There are multiple lakes in the area of Fukushima that falls within [[Bandai-Asahi National Park]]. {{nihongo3|Five-colored Lake|五色沼|Goshiki-numa}}, also called {{nihongo3|The Witch's Eye|魔女の瞳|Majo no Hitomi}} is a [[caldera lake]] located in Mt. Azuma's Mt. Issaikyō peak. The lake is so-named due its water color changing in relation to weather conditions. {{Nihongo|Lake Kama|鎌沼|}} and {{Nihongo|Lake Oke|桶沼|}} are also located in Bandai-Asahi National Park.<ref name=bandai-asahi>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/park/bandai/intro/files/area_3.pdf |script-title=ja:磐梯朝日国立公園 （磐梯吾妻・猪苗代地域）Bandai-Asahi National Park |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |access-date=4 June 2012 |language=ja}}</ref>

In the [[Tsuchiyu Onsen|Tsuchiyu]] area in the western part of the city lie the small lakes of {{Nihongo|Lake Me|女沼|}}, {{Nihongo|Lake O|男沼|}}, and {{Nihongo|Lake Nida|仁田沼|}}. In the neighborhood of {{Nihongo|Watari|渡利}} lies {{Nihongo|Lake Chaya|茶屋沼}}. {{Nihongo|Lake Jūroku|十六沼}} is in the {{Nihongo|Ōzasō|大笹生}} neighborhood.

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Fukushima has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa''). There is often a large temperature and weather difference between central Fukushima versus the mountains on the edge of the city. The hottest month tends to be August, with an average high of {{convert|30.4|°C}} in central Fukushima, at an elevation of {{convert|67.|m|ft}}, while Tsuchiyu Pass on the western edge of the city and at an elevation of {{convert|1,220.|m|ft}} has an average August high of {{convert|21.7|°C}}. The coldest month tends to be January, with an average low of {{convert|-1.8|°C}} in central Fukushima and {{convert|-9.0|°C}} on Tsuchiyu Pass.<ref name= fukushima-kishouchou>{{Cite web |url=http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=36&prec_ch=%E7%A6%8F%E5%B3%B6%E7%9C%8C&block_no=47595&block_ch=%E7%A6%8F%E5%B3%B6&year=2011&month=&day=&view=p1 |script-title=ja:気象庁｜平年値 （年･月ごとの値）|publisher=[[Japan Meteorological Agency]] |language=ja |access-date=May 31, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=tsuchiyu-kishouchou />

On average, central Fukushima receives {{convert|1166.0|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation annually and receives {{convert|0.5|mm|abbr=on}} or more of precipitation on 125.2 days per year. An average of {{convert|189|cm|abbr=on}} of snow falls annually, with 22.9 days receiving {{convert|5|cm|abbr=on}} or more of snow. An average of {{convert|74|cm|abbr=on}} of snow falls in January, making it the snowiest month. Central Fukushima also receives an average of 1,738.8 hours of sunshine per year, significantly more than the 1,166.5 hours received at Tsuchiyu Pass.<ref name=fukushima-kishouchou /><ref name=tsuchiyu-kishouchou />

{{Weather box
|collapsed = 
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Fukushima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1889−present)
|Jan record high C = 18.1
|Feb record high C = 21.4
|Mar record high C = 25.2
|Apr record high C = 32.2
|May record high C = 35.3
|Jun record high C = 36.7
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 39.1
|Sep record high C = 37.3
|Oct record high C = 31.8
|Nov record high C = 26.0
|Dec record high C = 22.4
|Jan record low C = -15.0
|Feb record low C = -18.5
|Mar record low C = -12.9
|Apr record low C = -5.5
|May record low C = -1.2
|Jun record low C = 3.8
|Jul record low C = 9.1
|Aug record low C = 9.8
|Sep record low C = 4.8
|Oct record low C = -1.7
|Nov record low C = -6.6
|Dec record low C = -13.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 56.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 41.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 75.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 81.8
|May precipitation mm = 88.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 121.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 177.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 151.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 167.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 138.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 58.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 48.9
|year precipitation mm = 1207.0
|Jan mean C = 1.9
|Feb mean C = 2.5
|Mar mean C = 5.9
|Apr mean C = 11.7
|May mean C = 17.2
|Jun mean C = 20.7
|Jul mean C = 24.3
|Aug mean C = 25.5
|Sep mean C = 21.6
|Oct mean C = 15.6
|Nov mean C = 9.5
|Dec mean C = 4.3
|year mean C = 13.4
|Jan high C = 5.8
|Feb high C = 7.1
|Mar high C = 11.2
|Apr high C = 17.7
|May high C = 23.1
|Jun high C = 25.9
|Jul high C = 29.1
|Aug high C = 30.5
|Sep high C = 26.2
|Oct high C = 20.5
|Nov high C = 14.5
|Dec high C = 8.6
|year high C = 18.3
|Jan low C = -1.5
|Feb low C = -1.2
|Mar low C = 1.3
|Apr low C = 6.4
|May low C = 12.1
|Jun low C = 16.6
|Jul low C = 20.8
|Aug low C = 21.9
|Sep low C = 18.0
|Oct low C = 11.7
|Nov low C = 5.2
|Dec low C = 0.7
|year low C = 9.3
|Jan humidity = 68
|Feb humidity = 65
|Mar humidity = 61
|Apr humidity = 58
|May humidity = 63
|Jun humidity = 72
|Jul humidity = 77
|Aug humidity = 76
|Sep humidity = 76
|Oct humidity = 73
|Nov humidity = 70
|Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 69
|Jan sun = 132.2
|Feb sun = 144.8
|Mar sun = 175.1
|Apr sun = 189.7
|May sun = 193.2
|Jun sun = 141.4
|Jul sun = 125.2
|Aug sun = 148.7
|Sep sun = 122.9
|Oct sun = 133.7
|Nov sun = 128.3
|Dec sun = 118.7
|year sun = 1753.8

|Jan snow cm = 49
|Feb snow cm = 34
|Mar snow cm = 14
|Apr snow cm = 1
|May snow cm = 0
|Jun snow cm = 0
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 0
|Oct snow cm = 0
|Nov snow cm = 1
|Dec snow cm = 24
|year snow cm = 122
|unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 10.6
|Feb precipitation days = 8.6
|Mar precipitation days = 9.2
|Apr precipitation days = 8.2
|May precipitation days = 9.7
|Jun precipitation days = 11.9
|Jul precipitation days = 15.2
|Aug precipitation days = 12.4
|Sep precipitation days = 12.0
|Oct precipitation days = 9.7
|Nov precipitation days = 7.7
|Dec precipitation days = 10.8
|year precipitation days = 126.0
|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=36&block_no=47595&year=&month=12&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]
| access-date = May 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}
<div style="width: 80%;"></div>{{Weather box
|collapsed = Y
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location= Moniwa, elevation of 200 meters, located at {{coord|37|53.5|N|140|26.2|E}} (1992−2020 normals, extremes 1992−present)
|Jan record high C = 13.9
|Feb record high C = 18.2
|Mar record high C = 22.1
|Apr record high C = 29.8
|May record high C = 32.9
|Jun record high C = 34.0
|Jul record high C = 36.2
|Aug record high C = 36.3
|Sep record high C = 34.1
|Oct record high C = 28.8
|Nov record high C = 24.8
|Dec record high C = 18.3
|year record high C= 36.3
|Jan record low C = -12.5
|Feb record low C = -11.8
|Mar record low C = -8.6
|Apr record low C = -3.7
|May record low C = 0.3
|Jun record low C = 4.1
|Jul record low C = 10.3
|Aug record low C = 12.0
|Sep record low C = 4.9
|Oct record low C = -0.5
|Nov record low C = -4.6
|Dec record low C = -8.9
|year record low C= -12.5
|Jan high C=3.6
|Feb high C=4.7
|Mar high C=8.7
|Apr high C=15.4
|May high C=21.2
|Jun high C=24.0
|Jul high C=27.2
|Aug high C=28.6
|Sep high C=24.4
|Oct high C=18.7
|Nov high C=12.8
|Dec high C=6.6
|year high C=16.3
|Jan mean C=0.0
|Feb mean C=0.5
|Mar mean C=3.4
|Apr mean C=9.2
|May mean C=14.7
|Jun mean C=18.5
|Jul mean C=22.2
|Aug mean C=23.2
|Sep mean C=19.3
|Oct mean C=13.2
|Nov mean C=7.3
|Dec mean C=2.3
|year mean C=11.2
|Jan low C=-3.4
|Feb low C=-3.4
|Mar low C=-1.2
|Apr low C=3.3
|May low C=8.6
|Jun low C=13.7
|Jul low C=18.2
|Aug low C=19.3
|Sep low C=15.4
|Oct low C=8.7
|Nov low C=2.6
|Dec low C=-1.4
|year low C=6.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm=92.5
|Feb precipitation mm=60.5
|Mar precipitation mm=83.0
|Apr precipitation mm=88.7
|May precipitation mm=90.6
|Jun precipitation mm=120.4
|Jul precipitation mm=182.4
|Aug precipitation mm=165.1
|Sep precipitation mm=162.1
|Oct precipitation mm=124.2
|Nov precipitation mm=82.3
|Dec precipitation mm=97.3
|year precipitation mm=1350.4

|Jan snow cm=140
|Feb snow cm=103
|Mar snow cm=40
|Apr snow cm=4
|May snow cm=0
|Jun snow cm=0
|Jul snow cm=0
|Aug snow cm=0
|Sep snow cm=0
|Oct snow cm=0
|Nov snow cm=2
|Dec snow cm=70
|year snow cm=353
|unit precipitation days=1.0mm
|Jan precipitation days=15.0
|Feb precipitation days=11.7
|Mar precipitation days=12.4
|Apr precipitation days=10.0
|May precipitation days=9.7
|Jun precipitation days=11.7
|Jul precipitation days=14.2
|Aug precipitation days=12.1
|Sep precipitation days=11.8
|Oct precipitation days=10.1
|Nov precipitation days=11.8
|Dec precipitation days=15.0
|year precipitation days=145.8
|unit snow days=3cm
|Jan snow days=13.8
|Feb snow days=11.8
|Mar snow days=4.4
|Apr snow days=0.5
|May snow days=0
|Jun snow days=0
|Jul snow days=0
|Aug snow days=0
|Sep snow days=0
|Oct snow days=0
|Nov snow days=0.2
|Dec snow days=6.1
|year snow days=36.0
|Jan sun=93.6
|Feb sun=112.9
|Mar sun=160.3
|Apr sun=182.0
|May sun=195.3
|Jun sun=150.4
|Jul sun=134.9
|Aug sun=154.4
|Sep sun=121.6
|Oct sun=130.3
|Nov sun=113.5
|Dec sun=94.0
|year sun=1645.1
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=36&block_no=1293&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = February 19, 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=36&block_no=1293&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = February 19, 2022}}</ref>}}

{{Weather box
|collapsed = Y
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Tsuchiyu Pass, elevation of 1,220 meters, located at {{coord|37|40.1|N|140|15.6|E}}  (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
|Jan record high C = 6.8
|Feb record high C = 11.8
|Mar record high C = 13.0
|Apr record high C = 20.6
|May record high C = 27.2
|Jun record high C = 27.6
|Jul record high C = 29.0
|Aug record high C = 29.4
|Sep record high C = 26.8
|Oct record high C = 24.6
|Nov record high C = 18.2
|Dec record high C = 15.3
|Jan record low C = -16.4
|Feb record low C = -20.3
|Mar record low C = -14.0
|Apr record low C = -10.7
|May record low C = -3.4
|Jun record low C = 1.6
|Jul record low C = 5.8
|Aug record low C = 8.5
|Sep record low C = 0.4
|Oct record low C = -3.9
|Nov record low C = -10.3
|Dec record low C = -14.6
|Jan high C=-3.8
|Feb high C=-2.9
|Mar high C=0.8
|Apr high C=7.4
|May high C=14.1
|Jun high C=17.3
|Jul high C=20.6
|Aug high C=21.8
|Sep high C=17.6
|Oct high C=11.9
|Nov high C=5.7
|Dec high C=-0.7
|year high C=9.1
|Jan mean C=-6.2
|Feb mean C=-5.8
|Mar mean C=-2.5
|Apr mean C=3.5
|May mean C=9.7
|Jun mean C=13.6
|Jul mean C=17.5
|Aug mean C=18.5
|Sep mean C=14.4
|Oct mean C=8.5
|Nov mean C=2.6
|Dec mean C=-3.2
|year mean C=5.9
|Jan low C=-8.7
|Feb low C=-8.7
|Mar low C=-5.8
|Apr low C=0.2
|May low C=6.0
|Jun low C=10.8
|Jul low C=15.1
|Aug low C=16.0
|Sep low C=11.9
|Oct low C=5.7
|Nov low C=-0.2
|Dec low C=-5.7
|year low C=3.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 111.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 70.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 115.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 145.7
|May precipitation mm = 165.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 239.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 318.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 309.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 297.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 246.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 124.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 133.5
|year precipitation mm= 2227.8
|Jan rain days = 17.6
|Feb rain days = 14.1
|Mar rain days = 14.7
|Apr rain days = 12.5
|May rain days = 12.9
|Jun rain days = 14.2
|Jul rain days = 17.3
|Aug rain days = 14.8
|Sep rain days = 15.5
|Oct rain days = 13.9
|Nov rain days = 14.9
|Dec rain days = 18.9
|Jan sun=38.8
|Feb sun=60.6
|Mar sun=108.3
|Apr sun=156.9
|May sun=178.8
|Jun sun=125.3
|Jul sun=106.0
|Aug sun=139.3
|Sep sun=106.9
|Oct sun=110.7
|Nov sun=86.4
|Dec sun=48.8
|year sun=1260.7
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=36&block_no=1116&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = February 19, 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]<ref name="tsuchiyu-kishouchou">{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=36&block_no=1116&year=&month=&day=&view=p1
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = February 19, 2022}}</ref>}}