Heat Wave to Last at Least Five More Days as Multiple High-Pressure Systems Cover Korea

Rain Expected in Jeju and Other Regions on August 4

The heat wave is expected to continue for at least five more days.

Satellite image of South Korea. Provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on July 31, two high-pressure systems?one from the North Pacific High and another from the main body of the Tibetan High?are overlapping over Korea, while hot and humid southeasterly winds are blowing, causing the severe heat to persist.

A change in the pressure system is expected around August 4. Currently, Typhoon Krosa, the ninth typhoon of the season, is moving northeast over the sea south-southeast of Tokyo, Japan, and as it clears a path, the high-pressure systems covering Korea are also expected to move northeast around that time.

However, the heat will not subside. This is because southerly winds carrying a large amount of water vapor will flow in.Rain is expected mainly in Jeju, Honam, and Chungcheong, and in some western regions, which may cause temperatures to drop slightly. However, as humidity remains high, the perceived temperature will not decrease.

Around August 6, the North Pacific High, which had contracted to the southeast of Japan, will expand westward again. Hot and humid air will flow into Korea, while dry air will move down from the north. As these two different air masses collide, significant rainfall is expected, especially in the central regions.

According to the forecast for daytime high temperatures in Seoul, the temperature will remain at 36 degrees Celsius until August 2, drop to 35 degrees on August 3?4, fall to 34 degrees on August 5, and then reach around 33 degrees from August 6 to 8.However, as the inflow of hot and humid air continues, the perceived temperature will remain higher than the actual temperature.