Daegu and Other Areas Reach 35°C at Noon... First Heatwave Alert of the Year

Some Inland Areas of Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam Also Affected

On the 3rd, as the daytime high temperature in Seoul rose to 29 degrees Celsius, continuing the early summer heat, heat haze caused by geothermal heat is rising on Yeouidaero in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The first heatwave advisory of the year has been issued. As of 11 a.m. on the 4th, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heatwave advisory for Daegu and some inland areas of Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam. The heatwave advisory is expected to continue until tomorrow (the 5th).

In Daegu, Gyeongsan, and other areas under the heatwave advisory, the daytime high temperature is expected to rise to 35 degrees Celsius, with a perceived temperature reaching 33 degrees Celsius. The criteria for issuing a heatwave advisory have changed this year to consider the daily maximum perceived temperature, which takes into account both temperature and humidity, instead of just the daily maximum temperature. A heatwave advisory is issued when the daily maximum perceived temperature is expected to remain at or above 33 degrees Celsius for two or more consecutive days, or when a rapid increase in perceived temperature or prolonged heatwave is expected to cause significant damage. A heatwave warning is issued if the temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius or higher. Compared to last year, the issuance of heatwave advisories this year is relatively late. Last year, the first advisory was issued on May 15 in Gwangju (33.1 degrees Celsius).

Other regions will also experience warm weather. The daytime high temperatures are forecasted to be 26 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 30 degrees Celsius in Daejeon, and 31 degrees Celsius in Gwangju, slightly higher than the previous day. Fine dust levels are expected to temporarily worsen due to yellow dust originating from eastern Mongolia on the 2nd, but overall air quality across all regions is expected to be moderate to good. A Korea Meteorological Administration official stated, "The day after tomorrow, relatively cool easterly winds will flow in, preventing daytime temperatures from rising, so the heatwave advisory may be lifted," adding, "The duration of this heatwave advisory will not be long."