Beachgoers cool off at Haeundae Beach in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on Sunday, the first weekend since the beach opened for the season. [Yonhap]
Beachgoers cool off at Haeundae Beach in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on Sunday, the first weekend since the beach opened for the season. [Yonhap]

Hot weather is forecast across inland areas of South Korea on Monday.

High pressure centered over the East Sea will push daytime highs above 30 degrees Celsius, with the heat index reaching around 31 C.

Morning lows are expected to range from 16 to 21 C, with afternoon highs between 24 and 33 C.

Forecast lows and highs for major cities are: Seoul 21 C and 32 C, Incheon 21 C and 29 C, Daejeon and Gwangju 20 C and 32 C, Daegu 18 C and 31 C, Ulsan 17 C and 27 C, and Busan 19 C and 27 C.

Showers are expected in western areas during the afternoon and evening, including inland parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, inland areas and mountain zones of Gangwon Province, inland Chungcheong, inland Jeolla and the western inland areas of South Gyeongsang Province.

Gusty winds, thunder and lightning are possible in those areas. The greater Seoul area and Gangwon Province could see intense downpours of around 20 millimeters per hour.

Drivers should take extra care, as the showers may reduce visibility and leave road surfaces slippery.

Fog reducing visibility to below 1 kilometer is forecast from early morning through the morning hours in inland Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, South Chungcheong, Jeolla and the western inland areas of South Gyeongsang Province.

Sea fog is also expected over the western part of the southern sea and the East Sea.

Visibility in some island areas could drop below 200 meters, with light drizzle possible. Mariners should take extra precautions against maritime accidents.


dingdong@heraldcorp.com