Extreme heat to continue before monsoon rain returns Tuesday
Heat wave advisories remain in place on Monday, with the apparent temperature nationwide expected to reach up to 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat haze rises from the street as Seoul's daytime temperature hits 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 12.YONHAP
Extreme heat is expected to persist across Korea on Monday, with daytime temperatures reaching as high as 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas before monsoon rain returns on Tuesday.
Heat wave advisories remain in effect across most of the country on Monday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The apparent temperature is expected to reach around33 degrees Celsius nationwide and around 35 degrees Celsius in central regions and parts of North Gyeongsang and North Jeolla.
Seoul is forecast to reach a high of 33 degrees Celsius, with the apparent temperatureclimbing to 34 degrees. Pohang and Gyeongsan in North Gyeongsang, where the season's first severe heat wave warning was issued Sunday, are expected to see temperatures as high as 37 degrees. Along the east coast of Gangwon, including Gangneung and Samcheok, the apparent temperature could also reach 37 degrees.
Overnight temperatures are also expected to remain high enough to produce tropical nights. Seoul recorded a morning low of 27.6 degrees Monday, well above the 25-degree threshold for a tropical night.
Monsoon rain is forecast to return Tuesday, bringing temporary relief from the heat.
Rain is expected to begin on Jeju Island early Tuesday before spreading to the greater Seouland South Chungcheong areas in the morning, then to the rest of central Korea and the Jeolla region later in the day. Most of the rain is expected to end by Wednesday afternoon.
The heaviest rainfall is forecast for Tuesday night, when the greater Seouland the Chungcheong region could receive 20 to 30 millimeters (0.79 to 1.18 inches) of rain per hour. Gangwon is expected to receive rainfall at a similar rate from Tuesday evening through early Wednesday.
Seagulls perch on a ship's line in Ulleung, where a heat wave alert was issued on July 13.NEWS1
Total rainfall through Wednesday is forecast to reach 30 to 80 millimeters across central Korea and 20 to 80 millimeters in North Jeolla and Jeju. North Gyeonggi and North Gangwon could receive more than 100 millimeters of accumulation.
Rain is expected to gradually lower daytime temperatures in Seoul, with daytime highs forecast to reach 32 degrees on Tuesday and 28 degrees on Wednesday. Southern regions, where less rain is expected, could continue to see temperatures as high as 36 degrees.
"Temperatures will temporarily fall in areas where it rains, but hot and humid conditions will return after the rain ends," a KMA official said. "People should drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous outdoor activities whenever possible because of the risk of heat-related illnesses."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
