South Korea records highest-ever temperature of 41.4 C as heatwave intensifies

SEOUL - South Korea recorded its highest temperature on Friday since modern weather observations began, as a prolonged heatwave pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for a third straight day in parts of the country.

The record was set in the southeastern city of Yangsan, where temperatures reached 41.4 C at 1:40 p.m. (0440 GMT), according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The reading surpassed the previous national record of 41.0 C set in Hongcheon in August 2018.

Yangsan has now recorded temperatures above 40 C for three consecutive days amid an intense heatwave affecting much of the country.

The KMA 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.

"KMA data records using the ASOS observing system began in 1973, and the 41.4 degrees measured in Yangsan is the highest temperature observed in our records since then," a KMA spokesperson said.

The KMA said the extreme heat across the country was 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 while limiting cloud cover.

Forecasters are also monitoring Typhoon Dolphin in the western Pacific, whose eventual track could influence weather conditions over the Korean Peninsula next week, although its impact on the ongoing heatwave remains uncertain. – Reuters