South Korea Swelters: Yangsan Hits 39.9°C, Busan Records 122-Year High

South Korea is experiencing an intense heatwave, with the city of Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province recording a scorching 39.9 degrees Celsius on August 29. This new record, observed multiple times throughout the afternoon, surpasses the previous highest temperature of 39.3 degrees Celsius set just three days prior on August 26.

The heatwave has also gripped Busan, which saw its temperature soar to 38.6 degrees Celsius. This figure breaks the previous record of 37.3 degrees Celsius recorded on August 14, 2016, and stands as the highest temperature since modern meteorological observations began in the city on April 9, 1904.

Meteorologists attribute the extreme and prolonged heat to a dual pressure system. Both the North Pacific high-pressure system and the Tibetan Plateau high-pressure system are currently positioned over the Korean Peninsula, creating conditions for exceptionally high temperatures. This atmospheric setup suggests that the severe heat is likely to persist for the foreseeable future, offering little respite to residents.