A Record 23 Days Earlier Than Average
Region Moved Out of Stationary Front on the 1st
Korea Meteorological Administration: "Heatwave to Continue for the Time Being"
The monsoon season in Gwangju and Jeonnam has effectively ended after just 12 days, which is 23 days earlier than the average. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the monsoon front retreated around the 1st, moving the region out of the influence of the stationary front.
On the 2nd, the sixth consecutive day of the heatwave advisory, children are enjoying water play at the floor fountain plaza in Sinyong Neighborhood Park, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 3rd, the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration reported that the expansion of the North Pacific High pushed the monsoon front northwestward. As a result, Gwangju and Jeonnam have been outside the monsoon's influence since the 1st. This year's monsoon is the second shortest on record since 1973. However, the meteorological agency stated that it will finalize the official end date of the monsoon after a comprehensive analysis of future rainfall patterns and climatological factors.
With the end of the monsoon, the heatwave has begun in earnest. On June 27, the first heatwave advisory of the year was issued for Gwangju and Jeonnam, and on the 28th, it was expanded to the entire region. From the 29th, most areas have been under a heatwave warning. As of Gwangju, the heatwave has continued for five consecutive days, and tropical nights have persisted for three days.
The Korea Meteorological Administration cited the unusual northward movement of the North Pacific High and the rise in sea surface temperatures in the western Pacific as the causes of the early onset of the heatwave. The agency explained that active convection due to a tropical disturbance near Taiwan led to rising air, which then descended near the Korean Peninsula, strengthening the anticyclonic circulation.
The hot weather is expected to continue for the time being. The meteorological agency forecasts mostly clear skies through the weekend, with the maximum perceived temperature likely to reach around 35 degrees Celsius due to solar radiation and southwesterly winds. Next week, some areas may experience showers due to atmospheric instability, but high humidity could make the perceived temperature feel even higher.
An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration stated, "There is a high possibility that the heatwave will persist for an extended period without significant rainfall," and urged individuals to take personal precautions to prevent health issues such as heat-related illnesses.
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