South Korea records highest-ever temperature of 42.5 C amid intense heatwave

South Korea has officially broken its all-time temperature record, with the southeastern city of Yangsan registering a scorching 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 Fahrenheit) on August 2. This historic high, recorded at 1:26 PM, surpasses all previous measurements taken over more than a century.

Yangsan has become the epicenter of an unrelenting heatwave, enduring temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. Much of the country is currently under widespread heat warnings, with many urban centers experiencing highs in the high 30s Celsius.

In response to the extreme conditions, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has placed more than 20 localities under emergency heatwave alerts. This new warning category, introduced this year, is issued when areas are forecast to experience perceived temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius or actual temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius for a full day, signaling a heightened level of danger.

Data from the KMA reveals a significant increase in heatwave frequency. The average annual number of heatwave days has more than doubled in the past five years, rising from eight days in the 1970s to 19 days recently. A heatwave day is defined as a day with a maximum temperature of at least 33 degrees Celsius, while a tropical night occurs when the overnight low temperature remains at or above 25 degrees Celsius.

Scientists are increasingly linking such extreme weather events, including intense heatwaves, to human-induced climate change. They warn that these phenomena are becoming more frequent and severe globally.