Seoul Surpasses 40 Degrees Celsius for First Time in Eight Years Amidst Record Heatwave

Seoul experienced its first temperature reading above 40 degrees Celsius in eight years on August 7, as extreme heat continues to grip South Korea. An automatic weather station in the Nowon-gu district, northeastern Seoul, registered a high of 40.2 degrees Celsius around 3:30 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

This marks the first time a Seoul observation point has recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius since August 1, 2018, when Gangbuk-gu registered 41.8 degrees Celsius. While the Nowon reading is not Seoul's official temperature, which is measured at the Jongno-gu station and reached 38 degrees Celsius on August 7, it underscores the severity of the heatwave. Seoul's official record high remains 39.6 degrees Celsius, also set in 2018.

Temperatures soared even higher in other parts of the country, with Hanam in Gyeonggi Province reaching 40.7 degrees Celsius and Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province hitting 40.2 degrees Celsius. The KMA has issued its highest-level heat warning for several regions, including parts of the Seoul metropolitan area and the Jeolla region, expanding the alert to include Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province on August 7.

The prolonged heatwave has made this summer one of the hottest on record. South Korea has recorded an average of 14.8 heatwave days (highs of at least 33 degrees Celsius) from June 1 to August 6, the fourth-highest figure since nationwide observations began in 1973. Furthermore, the average number of tropical nights, when overnight lows remain at or above 25 degrees Celsius, reached a record 13 days during the same period. The extreme weather has taken a significant toll on public health, with 208 heat-related illnesses reported on August 5, bringing the cumulative total to 2,665 cases, including 23 deaths.