Visitors walk through cooling mist at Ttukseom Han River Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Monday afternoon as the summer monsoon rains eased and sweltering heat returned. (Yoon Chang-bin)
Visitors walk through cooling mist at Ttukseom Han River Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Monday afternoon as the summer monsoon rains eased and sweltering heat returned. (Yoon Chang-bin)

The oppressive heat is forecast to continue Sunday.

Temperatures in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, soared to 39.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, approaching the 40-degree mark. The extreme heat, exceeding body temperature, was concentrated in the Yeongnam region — with Gyeongju recording 37.4 C, Daegu 37.3 C, Julpo-myeon in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, 37.2 C, and Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province 36.8 C.

Major cities also recorded highs roughly 5 degrees above seasonal norms, with Daejeon reaching 34.7 C, Busan 33.0 C, Seoul 32.6 C, and Incheon and Ulsan both hitting 31.6 C.

Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, climbed to 35.5 C on Saturday, setting a new record for the highest mid-July temperature since weather observations began there in 1968. Seosan in South Chungcheong Province reached 35.2 C, the second-highest temperature ever recorded in the same period.

Hot and humid air flowing in along the edge of the North Pacific high-pressure system is expected to keep nighttime temperatures from dropping significantly.

Tropical nights — when the minimum temperature stays at or above 25 C — are forecast across much of the country from Saturday night through Sunday morning. Heat wave advisories are currently in effect across all 91 land-based weather alert zones nationwide.

Sunday's morning low is forecast at 23 to 26 C, with afternoon highs ranging from 31 to 37 C.

Forecast temperatures for major cities on Sunday are: Seoul 25–34 C, Incheon 25–33 C, Daejeon 25–35 C, Gwangju 26–34 C, Daegu 26–35 C, Ulsan 25–33 C and Busan 26–32 C.

The apparent temperature is expected to reach around 33 C in most areas, climbing to around 35 C in the Greater Seoul area and the Chungcheong and southern regions.

Heat wave alerts are in place for 212 of the country's 235 land-based weather alert zones — about 90 percent — and the remaining zones could also come under alerts as the heat intensifies.

Light rain is expected Sunday in Jeju, along the southern coast of South Jeolla Province and in the western part of South Gyeongsang Province. The rain will taper off Sunday night along the South Jeolla and western South Gyeongsang coasts but will continue in Jeju through Monday night. Rain is also forecast for South Jeolla Province and western South Gyeongsang Province from early Monday morning through the evening.

Expected rainfall totals are 30 to 80 millimeters in Jeju's mountainous interior, 5 to 30 mm in other parts of Jeju, and 5 to 20 mm in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province and western South Gyeongsang Province.

Eastern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, eastern South Chungcheong Province, North Chungcheong Province and eastern North Jeolla Province can expect showers of 5 to 40 mm on Sunday afternoon.

Swells are forecast along the coasts of Jeju, South Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province for now.

Large waves may crash forcefully onto shore and could wash over rocky outcroppings and breakwaters. The public is urged to take precautions to avoid accidents.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com