The Longest Tropical Night in 118 Years... Heatwave Continues Next Week

Seoul 26 Days · Busan 22 Days Consecutive Records

Seoul's tropical nights have broken the longest record in the past 118 years.

Citizens visiting Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul are cooling off by playing in the water.
Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 16th, Seoul has experienced 26 consecutive tropical nights since the 21st of last month. This figure surpasses the 2018 record, making it the longest tropical night period in history.

In particular, this year the tropical nights have continued even after Liberation Day. According to the forecasted minimum temperatures in Seoul, the tropical nights are expected to subside only after Chuseo (the end of summer), with temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius over the weekend, 26 degrees from the 19th to the 21st, and 25 degrees from the 22nd to the 26th.

In Busan, tropical nights have continued for the 22nd consecutive day. This is the longest tropical night period in 121 years since modern meteorological observations began in 1904. Busan previously recorded 21 consecutive tropical nights in 1994 and 2018.

In Incheon, the tropical nights have reached the second longest record since 1904, lasting 24 days. The longest tropical night period in Incheon was 26 days in 2018. Jeju has experienced 32 consecutive tropical nights.

The weather pattern of tropical nights at night and showers during the day is expected to continue for about 10 more days. On the 16th, the daytime high temperature will range from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, with the apparent temperature rising to around 35 degrees in most areas. Showers are expected until the afternoon in Gangwon Yeongdong and the Gyeongsang coast, and from the afternoon to night (until early morning of the 17th in the Seoul metropolitan area and Honam) in the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon Yeongseo, Chungcheong, Honam, and inland Gyeongsang. Jeju is expected to receive 20 to 60 mm of rain, with up to 80 mm or more due to the influence of a low-pressure trough until the 17th. Although rain is expected on the 19th and 20th, the expansion of the North Pacific High will bring warm and humid southern winds, preventing a significant drop in temperature.