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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Why meteorologists warn summer could be Korea's hottest yet
Seoul hit 37.1 C Tuesday, its hottest July day since 1908 South Korea is on track to experience one of the most intense summer heat waves in recorded history, with meteorologists warning that temperatures could soar beyond 40 degrees Celsius. After heat wave advisories were upgraded to warnings in most parts of the country from Monday morning, Seoul saw temperatures reach as high as 37.1 C on Tuesday, the highest July temperature since national data collection began in 1908. Cities such as Gwangmyeong and Paju in Gyeonggi Province also saw daytime highs of 40 C on Tuesday. While both cities saw temperatures exceed 40 C in August last year, it was the first time such high temperatures were recorded in July, according to data from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Heat wave warnings in Korea are issued when the highest apparent temperature is expected to exceed 35 C for two or more consecutive days. While Tuesday and Wednesday were forecast by the KMA to be among the hottest days in recent weeks, news of exceptionally high temperatures is nothing new. According to a monthly climate report released by the KMA on July 3, the nationwide average temperature in June reached 22.9 C — the highest since the figure was first recorded in 1973. June's average temperature surpassed the previous all-time high of 22.7 C set just last year. 'Korea is seeing heat waves a lot earlier than usual this year, due to southwesterly winds bringing warm air to the peninsula. These winds, fueled by a high-pressure system, continue to bring in an influx of hot and humid air, resulting in widespread, prolonged heat waves and tropical nights,' KMA official Woo Jin-kyu told The Korea Herald. Woo added that this year's monsoon season was 'rather dry.' 'The monsoon season arrived earlier than usual this year and is also predicted to end a lot earlier than previous years,' said Woo. As monsoon season was officially declared to have ended on July 3, the KMA announced that it was the second-shortest monsoon on record. 'The rain this year was largely ineffective in bringing down average temperatures. After some initial downpours, the rest of the season remained largely dry with only light showers.' Meteorologists say the shortened monsoon season could mean even longer and more intense heat waves than last summer, noting that the timeline for extreme heat appears to have shifted forward by a month. 'In 2018, which is recorded as one of the hottest summers on record, Korea also saw an early end to the monsoon season, followed by unprecedented heat. The weather patterns observed up until now are very similar to those observed in 2018,' meteorologist Gong Sang-min told The Korea Herald. In 2018, temperatures in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, reached as high as 41 C, while Seoul saw temperatures of up to 39.6 C. The national average number of heat wave days totaled 31, which remains the highest to date. 'With weather records in terms of high temperatures already broken, we cannot rule out the possibility of temperatures exceeding 40 C again,' Gong added. 'The early end to the monsoon season only raises the likelihood of prolonged summer heat.'
The Star
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Seoul scorches at 37.8 deg C, highest early-July temperature ever recorded
As a heat wave warning is in effect in Seoul, the cityscape around Mount Bugak in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, is seen in red through a thermal imaging camera due to the intense heat. In thermal images, the color red indicates high temperatures while blue indicates lower temperatures. - Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald SEOUL: The temperature in Seoul reached 37.8 deg Celsius as of 3.15pm local time on July 8, the highest number ever recorded in the South Korean capital during the July 1–10 period since records began. The 37.1 deg C as of 2pm had already broken the previous highest temperature observed by the Seoul Meteorological Observatory for the same period, which was 36.8 deg C on July 9, 1939. This was 86 years ago and before the South Korean government was even officially established on Aug 15, 1948. Modern weather observation in Korea began in October 1907, meaning records for July temperatures can be traced back to the summer of the following year. Seoul has been hit this year with unusually early summer heat, with the Korea Meteorological Administration issuing the season's first heat wave at 10am on Monday. That was 18 days ahead of 2024, when the first heat wave warning was issued on July 25. A heat wave warning is issued when the day's high temperature is expected to reach a minimum of 35 deg C for two or more consecutive days. Meanwhile, a KMA report showed that the average temperature last month was 22.9 deg C, making it the hottest June on record and 0.2 deg C higher than 2024. Other regions across the country have also set record high weathers for early July, with temperatures of 40.2 deg C and 40.1 deg C being recorded each in Gwangmyeong and Paju, both in Gyeonggi Province. It was the first time a temperature went over 40 deg C in July, as the heat usually peaks in August in Korea. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Seoul scorches at 37.8 deg C, highest early-July temperature ever recorded
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A woman walks past a structure showing that the mercury shot up to an intraday high of 37 deg C in Seoul on July 8. SEOUL - The temperature in Seoul reached 37.8 deg Celsius as of 3.15pm on July 8 (2.15pm Singapore time), the highest number ever recorded in the South Korean capital during the July 1–10 period since records began. The 37.1 deg C as of 2pm had already broken the previous highest temperature observed by the Seoul Meteorological Observatory for the same period, which was 36.8 deg C on July 9, 1939. This was 86 years ago and before the South Korean government was even officially established on Aug 15, 1948. Modern weather observation in Korea began in October 1907, meaning records for July temperatures can be traced back to the summer of the following year. Seoul has been hit this year with unusually early summer heat, with the Korea Meteorological Administration issuing the season's first heat wave at 10am on Monday. That was 18 days ahead of 2024, when the first heat wave warning was issued on July 25. A heat wave warning is issued when the day's high temperature is expected to reach a minimum of 35 deg C for two or more consecutive days. Meanwhile, a KMA report showed that the average temperature last month was 22.9 deg C, making it the hottest June on record and 0.2 deg C higher than 2024. Other regions across the country have also set record high weathers for early July, with temperatures of 40.2 deg C and 40.1 deg C being recorded each in Gwangmyeong and Paju, both in Gyeonggi Province. It was the first time a temperature went over 40 deg C in July, as the heat usually peaks in August in Korea. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Why meteorologists warn summer could be South Korea's hottest yet
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Seoul saw temperatures reach as high as 37.1 deg C on July 8, the highest July temperature since national data collection began in 1908. SEOUL - South Korea is on track to experience one of the most intense summer heat waves in recorded history, with meteorologists warning that temperatures could soar beyond 40 deg C. After heat wave advisories were upgraded to warnings in most parts of the country from Monday morning, Seoul saw temperatures reach as high as 37.1 deg C on July 8, the highest July temperature since national data collection began in 1908. Cities such as Gwangmyeong and Paju in Gyeonggi Province also saw daytime highs of 40 deg C on July 8. While both cities saw temperatures exceed 40 deg C in August 2024, it was the first time such high temperatures were recorded in July, according to data from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Heat wave warnings in Korea are issued when the highest apparent temperature is expected to exceed 35 deg C for two or more consecutive days. While July 8 and 9 were forecast by the Korea Meteorological Administration to be among the hottest days in recent weeks, news of exceptionally high temperatures is nothing new. According to a monthly climate report released by the KMA on July 3, the nationwide average temperature in June reached 22.9 deg C — the highest since the figure was first recorded in 1973. June's average temperature surpassed the previous all-time high of 22.7 deg C set just last year. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light lost steering and braking power due to faulty part Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Singapore AI cannot supplant learning, it must enable it: Desmond Lee Business ShopBack to scale up its payments business as it gets major payment institution licence Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray 'Korea is seeing heat waves a lot earlier than usual this year, due to southwesterly winds bringing warm air to the peninsula. These winds, fueled by a high-pressure system, continue to bring in an influx of hot and humid air, resulting in widespread, prolonged heat waves and tropical nights,' KMA official Woo Jin-kyu told The Korea Herald. Mr Woo added that this year's monsoon season was 'rather dry'. 'The monsoon season arrived earlier than usual this year and is also predicted to end a lot earlier than previous years,' said Mr Woo. As monsoon season was officially declared to have ended on July 3, the KMA announced that it was the second-shortest monsoon on record. 'The rain this year was largely ineffective in bringing down average temperatures. After some initial downpours, the rest of the season remained largely dry with only light showers.' Meteorologists say the shortened monsoon season could mean even longer and more intense heat waves than last summer, noting that the timeline for extreme heat appears to have shifted forward by a month. 'In 2018, which is recorded as one of the hottest summers on record, Korea also saw an early end to the monsoon season, followed by unprecedented heat. The weather patterns observed up until now are very similar to those observed in 2018,' meteorologist Gong Sang-min told The Korea Herald. In 2018, temperatures in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, reached as high as 41 deg C, while Seoul saw temperatures of up to 39.6 deg C. The national average number of heat wave days totaled 31, which remains the highest to date. 'With weather records in terms of high temperatures already broken, we cannot rule out the possibility of temperatures exceeding 40 deg C again,' Mr Gong added. 'The early end to the monsoon season only raises the likelihood of prolonged summer heat.' THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Gwangmyeong, Paju hit record July highs above 40 C in South Korea
Temperatures in the western South Korean cities of Gwangmyeong and Paju soared above 40 C on Tuesday, marking the highest July temperatures ever recorded in the country, the state weather agency said. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Paju reached 40.1 C at around 3:24 p.m. while Gwangmyeong hit 40.2 C at around 3:42 p.m., based on data from its automated weather stations. It was the first time temperatures in South Korea surpassed 40 C since Aug. 4 last year, when the mercury in Yeoju climbed to 40 C during what was recorded as the hottest year in the country's history. South Korea has only seen a few instances of temperatures exceeding 40 C. Daegu recorded 40 C on Aug. 1, 1942. After a long gap, several regions including Hongseong, Chuncheon (north), Uiseong, Yangpyeong and Chungju saw temperatures rise above 40 C on Aug. 1, 2018. Uiseong again crossed 40 C on Aug. 14 that year. On Aug. 5, 2019, Anseong in Gyeonggi Province also hit 40.2 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in South Korea since modern records began in 1904 was 41 C in Hongcheon on Aug. 1, 2018, according to the KMA. Also on Tuesday, Seoul registered its highest temperature for early July in the 117 years since record-keeping began in the capital city in 1908, with the mercury climbing to 37.7 C at around 3 p.m. The previous record for the first 10 days of July in the capital was 36.8 C, set on July 9, 1939, according to the agency. Besides Seoul, new high temperature records for early July were set in many other cities nationwide -- Incheon (35.6 C), Wonju of Gangwon Province (35.4 C), Suwon of Gyeonggi Province (35.7 C), Cheongju of North Chungcheong Province (35.7 C), Daejeon (36.3 C), Gochang of North Jeolla Province (35.8 C) and Busan (34.5 C), the weather agency said. The sweltering weather may slightly ease around Friday but will continue again later due to the influx of hot and humid air from the south, it said. The heat wave is forecast to persist until some rainfall in the capital area and western Gangwon Province around July 16, the agency said. Seoul experienced its ninth consecutive tropical night between Monday and Tuesday. According to the weather agency, the nation's average temperature, excluding the southern Jeju Island, in the first seven days of July was 28.1 C, the highest figure on record since relevant record-keeping began in 1973. (Yonhap)
