YEOJU — South Korea's ongoing heat wave, marked by tropical nights and daytime temperatures reaching up to 40 C, is forecasted to persist for at least another 10 days, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The city of Yeoju, located 64 kilometers southeast of Seoul, experienced temperatures soaring to 40 C on Sunday, the highest since 2018, amid nationwide special heat wave warnings.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this prolonged period of extreme heat began affecting various regions across South Korea, with Yangsan in the south recording a near record temperature of 39.3 C the previous day. Gangneung on the east coast also reported its 16th consecutive tropical night, indicating sustained high nighttime temperatures above 25 C.
Forecasts for the upcoming week until August 14 suggest that daytime temperatures will continue to range between 30 C and 36 C across the country. This prediction points to an extended duration of the heat wave, with the possibility of experiencing more consecutive tropical nights in some areas. The current weather patterns could potentially match the record-breaking heat levels of 2018, when the highest daily temperature recorded in South Korea reached 41 C in Hongcheon.
The continuation of this extreme weather poses significant health risks, and authorities are likely to maintain or escalate heat-related warnings and advisories to ensure public safety during this challenging period.