Pedestrian walk through a fountain in central Seoul on May 10. [NEWS1]
A spell of midsummer-like heat is expected to begin Thursday, with daytime highs climbing above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) across the greater Seoul area, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Wednesday.
The unusually hot weather will likely persist through the weekend and until early next week, according to the weather forecaster.
“Daytime temperatures are likely to climb to around 30 degrees Celsius on Thursday in the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheong region, before the heat extends to inland areas nationwide on Friday,” the KMA said. “Inland areas across the country are also expected to see sharp swings between daytime highs and nighttime lows.”
Seoul is expected to hit a daytime high of 26 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, before temperatures surge to 31 degrees Celsius on Thursday — nearly 10 degrees above the seasonal average of 22.6 degrees Celsius.
It will mark the first time this year that temperatures in the capital exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
Under clear and sunny skies, daytime highs in Seoul are expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius through the weekend. The streak of hot weather is forecast to continue through Monday.
The weather agency forecast that mountainous areas in Gangwon are likely to receive scattered showers from late Wednesday evening. Starting Thursday afternoon, the Jeolla region and western inland parts of South Gyeongsang could see 5 to 20 millimeters (0.19 to 0.78 inches) of rain.
Farmers in Gangwon work under umbrellas to hide themselves from sunlight during summertime heatwave in August 2025. [YONHAP]
Meteorologists say the unusual early-season heat is driven by a high-pressure ridge hovering over the Korean Peninsula, bringing clear skies and trapping warm air near the ground.
“A hot, dry atmospheric ridge — similar to the dynamics of summer heat waves — has stalled over the country, causing heat to accumulate under clear, sunny skies,” KMA forecaster Gong Sang-min said. “There is very little moisture or dust in the atmosphere, which makes the sunlight feel even more intense. People working outdoors for long hours should make sure to rest in shaded areas.”
Forecasters also warned of significant temperature swings between day and night. Dry air, combined with radiative cooling after sunset, is expected to bring nighttime temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius in some inland areas.
“Temperature differences between daytime highs and nighttime lows will remain around 15 degrees in many inland regions,” another KMA official said. “People should take extra care to stay healthy.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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