Children and adults frolic in a pool facility in eastern Seoul on June 28.YONHAP
A heat wave advisory was issued for Seoul on Monday, with sweltering heat and little relief at night expected to persist throughout the week.
“Daytime highs will climb above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) across most inland regions, while the apparent temperatures will exceed 33 degrees Celsius in the greater Seoul area and parts of inland Chungcheong regions,” the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.
Heat wave advisories took effect Monday across Seoul, other parts of the greater Seoul region and some areas of the Chungcheong region.
The advisory is issued when the apparent temperature is forecast to stay at or above 33 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days. The apparent temperature reflects how hot the human body feels by accounting for humidity as well as air temperature. Based on a humidity level of approximately 55 percent, a 10 percent increase in humidity raises the perceived temperature by about 1 degree Celsius.
Seoul's mercury is expected to reach 33 degrees on Monday afternoon. Near-tropical-night conditions are likely to continue into Tuesday morning as the apparent temperature remains above 24 degrees during early morning hours.
"The apparent temperature at indoor and outdoor workplaces, farms and roads may be even higher than at sites equipped with weather monitoring instruments," the KMA said. The weather agency noted that the extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses and advised people to “stay hydrated and avoid strenuous outdoor activities whenever possible."
Early July weather prediction by the Korea Meteorological AdministrationKOREA METEOROLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION
Atmospheric instability is expected to bring heavy, intermittent showers to the central region, including Seoul, from Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening.
Precipitation could reach around 20 millimeters (0.78 inches) per hour, with strong wind gusts and hail also possible. The weather agency warned of potential safety hazards and crop damage.
This year's monsoon season is now expected to begin in July — later than the seasonal average. The seasonal rain front remains south of Japan.
With no monsoon rain forecast through Tuesday, this year's monsoon season is on track to become only the third to begin in July since nationwide weather observations began in 1973, after 1982 and 2021.
The rain front could begin moving north in early July and bring the season's first monsoon rainfall.
The rain is expected to begin on Jeju Island early Wednesday before spreading to the Chungcheong and southern regions around the upcoming weekend, according to the KMA.
"After the typhoon passes, the atmospheric pattern will shift, and rainfall could vary depending on whether the North Pacific High expands farther north or a trough from the north takes hold," KMA forecaster Woo Jin-kyu said. “We need to monitor conditions a little longer before determining whether the monsoon season has truly begun.”
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.
