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Torrid heat waves could continue into autumn, KMA warns

Published: 04 May. 2026, 18:16

Pedestrians take shelter beneath a sunshade in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Sept. 5, 2025. [NEWS1]

Korea might see scorching heat waves after the summer monsoon and even into autumn this year, according to a report from the state-run Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Monday.

The past month was the third-warmest April on record since 1973, extending a sustained run of above-average temperatures.

The nationwide average temperature in April was 13.8 degrees Celsius (56.84 degrees Fahrenheit) — 1.7 degrees higher than the seasonal norm of 12.1 degrees, according to a monthly climate report from the KMA.

The all-time highest average temperature for the month was recorded in 2024, at 14.9 degrees Celsius, followed by 14.7 degrees Celsius in 1998.

Both years subsequently experienced exceptionally severe heat waves.

In mid-April of this year, much of the country experienced unseasonably high temperatures. In Seoul, the mercury climbed to 29.4 degrees on April 19, setting a record for that time of year.

“Intensified anticyclonic circulation in the upper atmosphere over the Korean Peninsula created conditions favorable for rising temperatures,” the KMA said, noting that clear skies with no clouds helped sunlight penetrate the atmosphere directly and drove temperatures well above average.

The warming trend began to take shape earlier this year.

February recorded an above-average temperature of 2.7 degrees Celsius, while March's average was 7.4 degrees Celsius. Each of them was 1.5 and 1.3 degrees higher than average, respectively. This year’s February and March were ranked the ninth warmest on record.

The KMA’s three-month outlook estimates a 50 percent likelihood of above-normal temperatures in May and June, and a 60 percent likelihood in July.

As such, the agency is bracing for a sizzling summer. It has expanded its heat alert system from two tiers — advisory and warning — to three.

The new “severe heat emergency warning” tier signifies even higher temperatures than the second-ranked “conventional warning” tier. It will be issued when daytime highs are expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius or when the perceived temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius.

A weather forecaster points to an electronic display of daily temperatures across central areas of the Korean Peninsula on July 28, 2025. [WOO SANG-JO]

Meteorologists say global sea surface temperatures will play a critical role in determining summer temperatures.

In particular, a positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole — warmer waters in the western Indian Ocean and cooler waters in the southeast — could alter atmospheric circulation after the monsoon season and trigger a heat dome over the Korean Peninsula. If a heat dome occurs, the heat wave would persist even into the autumn.

Another factor is the El Niño climate phenomenon, which is expected to develop this summer.

Defined by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, El Niño tends to release large amounts of ocean heat into the atmosphere, raising global temperatures.

“In 1994, when a positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole developed, record-breaking heat persisted into October, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius,” said Kim Hae-dong, a professor of environmental engineering at Keimyung University. “This year, with the added influence of El Niño, both intense heat waves and heavy rainfall are likely."

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.
BY CHON KWON-PIL [[email protected]]