Heatwave grips South Korea as monsoon ends early

SEOUL - As monsoon season was officially declared to have ended in southern parts of South Korea on July 3, intense heatwaves are expected throughout the week, with heatwave warnings issued across most parts of the country as of 10am on July 7.

On July 7, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced that it would upgrade its previous heatwave advisories to warnings for most parts of the country, including the Greater Seoul region, North and South Chungcheong provinces, North and South Gyeongsang provinces, North Jeolla province and eastern parts of Jeju Island.

Heatwave advisories are issued when the highest apparent temperature is expected to exceed 33 deg C for two or more consecutive days, while heatwave warnings are issued when the highest apparent temperature is expected to exceed 35 deg C for two or more consecutive days.

According to the KMA, of the 183 inland regions under heat-related alerts, 122 are under heatwave warnings and 55 are under advisories.

Seoul also saw its first citywide heatwave advisory of the year issued July 7, arriving 18 days earlier than 2024’s heatwave warning.

The heat is expected to intensify in the capital and other cities in the Greater Seoul region on July 8 and 9, as high temperatures of up to 36 C are expected both days.

If temperatures rise above than 36 deg C on the following two days, a new temperature record could be set. According to the state weather agency, the highest July temperature on record in Seoul was 36.8 deg C, set on July 9, 1939.

Up until now, hot and humid southwesterly winds flowing along the edge of the North Pacific high-pressure system have brought particularly hot temperatures to the eastern parts of Korea, including Gangneung in Gangwon province. Gangneung saw temperatures rise as high as 38.7 deg C on July 6 — the third-highest July temperature record seen since measurements were first taken in 1911.

However, as the direction of the wind moves east, the focus of the heatwave is also expected to shift.

While Gangneung and other parts of Gangwon located in the east will see relatively cooler temperatures of around 29 deg C to 30 deg C, western parts of Korea including Seoul will see sweltering temperatures.

This shift is mainly due to the influence of Typhoon Danas, moving toward Shantou, China. While the typhoon is not forecast to make landfall in Korea, the KMA warned that the tropical air mass being pushed toward the Korean Peninsula will intensify the current heatwaves, bringing both higher temperatures and increased humidity.

As scorching heat continues to grip the country, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDA) reported on July 7 that 59 people visited emergency rooms nationwide due to heat-related symptoms on July 6, with two fatalities reported in Jeonju, North Jeolla province and Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang province, after suffering a heat stroke.

Since the launch of the national heat illness surveillance system on May 15 – covering 517 emergency medical facilities – a total of 875 people have been treated for heat-related illnesses and seven deaths have been reported.

According to the KDCA, this marks a sharp increase compared to the same period in 2024, which saw 469 cases and three deaths. The 875 cases recorded up until now already surpass 2024’s total of 859.

Relief from the heat may come over the weekend as a high-pressure system carrying cooler northern air is expected to move toward the peninsula on July 12.

The interaction between the cooler air and the lingering heat may lead to the formation of a stationary front, bringing rain to the capital region as well as the western parts of Gangwon province on July 16.

Due to the potential for additional rainfall, the KMA has yet to officially declare an end to the monsoon season in the central parts of the country. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK