A heat wave warning has been issued for most areas of the country on the 24th, and this heat is expected to intensify further through the weekend. The dual high-pressure systems are continuing to cover the Korean Peninsula, and it is expected to particularly heat up the western regions, including Seoul.
Gong Sang-min, a forecast analyst at the Korea Meteorological Administration, said during the regular forecast briefing that "the heat wave will intensify over the weekend, especially in the west," adding that the temperature at the Seoul observation station could rise above 38 degrees, higher than today’s (24th) temperatures on the 25th and 26th.
Recent heat waves are attributed to the dual high-pressure phenomenon. Analyst Gong explained, "The North Pacific high-pressure system is covering the skies over Korea, while the Tibetan high-pressure system is expanding its influence from inland China into Korea," noting that "these intense high-pressure systems are overlapping like a blanket, causing the heat wave to persist."
As of 10 a.m. on the same day, heat wave warnings are in effect for most regions across the country, except for mountainous areas in Taebaek, Gangwon, and Jeju. Among 183 land weather warning zones, 126 (69%) have heat wave alerts, while 51 (28%) have heat wave advisories.
The heat wave is expected to continue at the level of a heat wave warning through the weekend. The heat will be particularly severe in western regions of the Korean Peninsula, including the capital area and Chungcheong. Currently, a hot and humid southeast wind is entering the lower atmosphere, and this wind is expected to exacerbate the 'foehn effect' as it passes over the Sobaek Mountains, adding to the existing influence of the dual high-pressure systems. The daytime temperature in Seoul is expected to exceed 38 degrees.
Next week's weather conditions are expected to take the form of either 'heat waves' or 'heavy rain.' Currently, there are three typhoons forming near Korea, and predicting their movements and strength presents challenges as volatility is expected to increase after the 28th. Typhoon Francisco (No. 7) formed near Okinawa, Japan, on the morning of the 23rd, followed in the afternoon by Typhoon Komai (No. 8) near Manila, Philippines, and then Typhoon Krosa (No. 9) formed in waters near Guam at noon on the same day.
While there will likely be no direct impact from the typhoons, caution is necessary along the seas and coastlines as the peak vacation season begins this weekend. The Korea Meteorological Administration noted that a gale and high swells could occur in Jeju and the southern coastal areas from the night of the 24th through the 29th, with a possibility of a wave warning being issued. Coupled with the spring tide period, the risk of coastal flooding increases, so beachgoers and coastal visitors should be particularly cautious about safety incidents. Additionally, between the 26th and 27th, up to 60 mm of rain may fall in the mountainous areas of Jeju.
Meanwhile, record-breaking heat persists this year, just as it did last year. From the 1st of last month to the 22nd of this month, the average daily temperature was 24.4 degrees, the highest for the same period since the expansion of the weather observation network in 1973. The average maximum temperature was also 29.4 degrees, again the highest. The number of heat wave days (days when the maximum temperature exceeds 33 degrees) is 9.5 days, the second highest on record, while tropical night days (nights when the minimum temperature is above 25 degrees) total 4.9 days, the second highest as well.