"Record-Breaking Heatwave Until Chuseok... Heatwave Warnings Issued Nationwide"

On the afternoon of the 17th, Chuseok day, heatwave warnings or advisories were issued in most regions nationwide.

As the monsoon rain in the central region subsided, the scorching heat returned on the 19th. Citizens visiting the Seongnaecheon water playground in Songpa-gu, Seoul, are cooling off by playing in the water. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that as of 2 p.m. on the 17th, heatwave warnings would be issued for 14 locations in Gyeongbuk including Daegu, western, central, and eastern Busan, and Gumi, 3 locations in Gyeongnam including Goseong, and 2 locations in Jeonbuk including Jinan. Heatwave advisories were issued for 5 locations in Gangwon including Wonju, 8 locations in Gyeongbuk including Pohang, and western and eastern Ulsan.

The Gyeongbuk areas under heatwave warnings are Gumi, Gyeongsan, Gyeongju, Andong, Gimcheon, Chilgok, Yeongju, Yeongcheon, Sangju, Yecheon, Uiseong, Seongju, Cheongdo, and Goryeong; the Gyeongnam areas are Goseong, Hamyang, and Sancheong. In Jeonbuk, the warnings were issued for Jinan and Muju.

The Gangwon areas under heatwave advisories are Wonju, Hoengseong, Yeongwol, lowlands of Hongcheon County, and lowlands of Jeongseon County; the Gyeongbuk areas are Pohang, lowlands of Uljin County, Yeongdeok, lowlands of Bonghwa County, Cheongsong, lowlands of Yeongyang County, northeastern mountainous areas of Gyeongbuk, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo.

Heatwave warnings are issued when the maximum perceived temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius for two or more consecutive days or when significant damage is expected due to the heat. Heatwave advisories are issued when the maximum perceived temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius under similar conditions.

As of 2 p.m., temperatures were 33.1 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Busan, 35.1 degrees in Daejeon, 34.2 degrees in Daegu, and 33.7 degrees in Gwangju. The heatwave continues due to hot and humid southeast winds blowing between a high-pressure system moving eastward over the East Sea and Typhoon No. 13 'Bebinca' which made landfall near Shanghai, China.