Possibility of Late Heat Continuing into September... 30% Chance of Abnormal High Temperatures

As the heatwave continues day after day, the likelihood of late summer heat extending until September is increasing.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's (KMA) "1-Month Outlook (September 2?29)" released on the 25th, there is a 60% chance that temperatures during the first week of next month (September 2?8) will be higher than average. The third week (September 16?22) also shows a 60% probability of above-average temperatures. The first and third weeks include the solar terms Baekro (白露), meaning "dew falls," and Chubun (秋分), meaning "nights grow longer," respectively.

On the 12th, during the "Water Bottle Sharing Campaign for Mobile Workers" held to protect the health of delivery, courier, quick service, and designated driver workers working outdoors in the heat, officials near Jangtonggyo Bridge at Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul distributed water bottles to the workers. Starting from this day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide a total of approximately 106,000 water bottles, one per person, at 27 locations including Seoul City and District Labor Centers and mobile worker rest areas. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The possibility of high temperatures in September this year is relatively high even compared to 2018, the hottest year of the 21st century so far. In 2018, which was the hottest since 2000, the probability of temperatures being above average until the third week of September was only 20%, showing a significant difference from this year.

According to the KMA, the first and second weeks of September this year are expected to be on the edge of the North Pacific High, and thereafter, due to the influence of a mobile high-pressure system, the probability of warmer-than-average temperatures is expected to be high.

The probability of abnormal high temperatures occurring in the first week of September also reached 30% for both minimum and maximum temperatures. The criteria for abnormal high temperatures vary by region; in Seoul, it is considered abnormal when the minimum temperature exceeds 18.5°C and the maximum temperature exceeds 29.5°C.

Meanwhile, the KMA explained that the nationwide cumulative precipitation over the past six months (February 20?August 19) was 842.5 mm, which is 95.4% of the average (881.4 mm). As a result, some areas in Gangwon Yeongdong and Gyeongbuk are experiencing a "meteorological drought," and meteorological drought conditions are expected to continue for the time being in parts of Gangwon Yeongdong. Meteorological drought refers to a phenomenon where precipitation in a specific area is below the average amount, causing a prolonged dry period.