SEOUL – South Korea’s weather agency said on Aug 12 that it expects the current heatwave in the country to continue at least until Aug 22, with temperatures to be higher than usual.

       In the past, South Korea saw the summer heat easing into autumn weather after Aug 15.

       But due to the continued convergence of the Tibetan and North Pacific high-pressure systems over the Korean peninsula, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) anticipates that the current heatwave will last longer.

       Until Aug 22, morning temperatures are expected to reach up to 27 deg C, while daytime temperatures are expected to range between 30 deg C and 34 deg C.

       As the centre of these overlapping high-pressure systems shifts this week, the KMA said the westerly winds that have brought hot and humid temperatures will shift to still hot but drier easterly winds from this week.

       Due to this shift, temperatures are expected to rise further in the Greater Seoul area and western parts of Gangwon province this week, said the national weather agency. It added that while the heat will continue to be accompanied by more tropical nights, it will be slightly less humid than before due to drier winds.

       Eastern parts of South Korea, including cities such as Gangneung, Sokcho and Samcheok, can expect to see a little relief from the heat this week, with temperatures dropping one to three degrees.

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       But the KMA said heatwave warnings and tropical nights may still remain in these areas due to high sea surface temperatures.

       High temperatures will persist on Aug 13, with apparent temperatures rising to 35 deg C.

       Some parts of the country, including the Greater Seoul area, inland regions of Gangwon province, South Jeolla province and the Chungcheong provinces, will see sporadic showers from the afternoon until nighttime.

       Across South Korea, morning temperatures on Aug 13 are expected to range between 22 deg C and 27 deg C, while daytime temperatures are expected to range between 30 deg C and 35 deg C.

       While heatwave warnings were issued nationwide on Aug 12, the tropical night phenomenon has been observed overnight in Seoul for 22 days in a row, the agency said.

       It said the 2024 stretch of tropical nights in Seoul is the third-longest on record since weather records were first kept for the city in 1907.

       A tropical night refers to when the lowest temperature remains above 25 deg C between 6.01pm the night before and 9am the next day.

       As at 8am on Aug 12, morning temperatures had reached 29.3 deg C in Seoul.

       Major cities Incheon and Busan have also been experiencing tropical nights – for 20 and 18 days in a row, respectively. The two cities saw temperatures reach up to 29.7 and 28.8 deg C as at 8am on Aug 12.

       As at 5.10pm, a heatwave warning at the third-highest level of “alert” in the four-tier system had been issued in most parts of the country, as temperatures ranged between 33 deg C and 39 deg C nationwide.

       South Korea issues heatwave warnings at the “alert” level when the highest temperature is forecast to exceed 35 deg C for two consecutive days or more. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK