South Korea experienced its highest temperature on Friday as modern weather records were broken due to a relentless heat wave causing temperatures to soar above 40 degrees Celsius for the third consecutive day in certain regions of the country.
The new record was established in the city of Yangsan, located in the southeast, where temperatures peaked at 41.4 degrees Celsius at 1:40 p.m. local time, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). This reading exceeded the previous national record of 41.0 degrees Celsius set in Hongcheon back in August 2018.
Yangsan has now endured three straight days with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius, part of a severe heat wave affecting a large portion of South Korea. The KMA has issued its most severe heat wave warning for sections of South Gyeongsang province, including Yangsan, while heat wave advisories and warnings are in place throughout most of the country.
A spokesperson from the KMA noted that the 41.4 degrees Celsius recorded in Yangsan is the highest temperature observed in their records since the introduction of the ASOS observing system in 1973. The extreme heat gripping the nation is attributed to the combined influence of the North Pacific High and Tibetan High pressure systems, creating a lid-like effect over the Korean Peninsula, trapping heat and leading to rising temperatures while limiting cloud cover.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring Typhoon Dolphin in the western Pacific, as its trajectory could impact weather patterns over the Korean Peninsula in the upcoming week, although the extent of its effect on the ongoing heat wave remains uncertain.