South Korea Sees Record 42.5°C Temperature in Yangsan
South Korea recorded its highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C in the southeastern city of Yangsan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The temperature was reached at 1:26 pm on Sunday, surpassing the previous national record of 41.0°C set in Hongcheon in August 2018. Yangsan has been at the epicentre of the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday.
More than 20 localities in South Korea were under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday, a new warning category introduced this year to better address rising temperatures. The average annual number of heatwave days in the country has more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, from eight in the 1970s. Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-induced climate change.
The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued its highest-level heatwave warning for parts of South Gyeongsang Province, including Yangsan, while heatwave advisories and warnings remain in effect across most of South Korea. The extreme heat across the country is caused by the simultaneous influence of the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High pressure systems, which have covered the Korean Peninsula like a lid, trapping heat and allowing temperatures to build across much of the country.
The heatwave in South Korea is part of a larger pattern of extreme weather events affecting various parts of the world, including the UAE, which has seen temperatures reach 50°C, and Denmark, which has recorded its hottest day on record at 37°C. The Korea Meteorological Administration is also monitoring Typhoon Dolphin in the western Pacific, whose eventual track could influence weather conditions over the Korean Peninsula next week.
The record temperature in Yangsan is a significant concern for the region, with the Korea Meteorological Administration spokesperson stating that the 42.5°C measured in Yangsan is the highest temperature observed in their records since 1973. The heatwave has led to increased warnings and advisories, with many cities seeing temperatures climb into the high 30C.
Heatwave days are defined as days with a maximum temperature of at least 33C, while a tropical night is one when the overnight low remains 25C or above. The ongoing heatwave has resulted in temperatures exceeding 40C for a fifth consecutive day in Yangsan, highlighting the severity of the situation.
