Tourists from South Korea and abroad visit Gyeongbokgung Palace on Sunday as the prolonged heat wave eases slightly, with a blue sky and white clouds framing the historic site. [Yonhap]
Tourists from South Korea and abroad visit Gyeongbokgung Palace on Sunday as the prolonged heat wave eases slightly, with a blue sky and white clouds framing the historic site. [Yonhap]

Seoul escaped its tropical night streak for the first time in 17 days over the weekend as the fierce heat wave lost some of its intensity. Extreme heat alerts were lifted nationwide, offering a brief respite from the sweltering conditions. However, daytime highs near 35 degrees Celsius and tropical nights are expected to continue through this week.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Seoul's overnight low from 6 p.m. Saturday through 9 a.m. Sunday stood at 24.5 C — dipping below the 25 C threshold that defines a tropical night. The city had recorded consecutive tropical nights since July 23.

Meteorologists attributed the slight cooling to a shift in the dual high-pressure system that had blanketed the Korean Peninsula, with its center moving northwest and easterly winds weakening, allowing overnight heat to dissipate. Cloud cover and rain in some areas also reduced solar radiation during the day, pulling temperatures down further.

Rain along the East Coast is expected to bring temporary relief, particularly in coastal and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province and North Gyeongsang Province, where up to 60 millimeters of rainfall — and more than 80 millimeters in some spots — is forecast through Monday. Busan and Ulsan can expect 20 to 60 millimeters, while central and eastern inland areas of South Gyeongsang Province will see 5 to 40 millimeters. Rain is also forecast over mountainous and mid-altitude areas of Jeju Island.

On Monday, morning lows are forecast at 21 to 26 C and afternoon highs at 27 to 34 C. Areas receiving rain will see a temporary drop in temperatures, but once the rain clears, rising humidity is expected to push the heat back up.

While the extreme heat alerts have been lifted nationwide, heat advisories remain in place across much of the country outside the East Coast. The worst of the extreme heat — with temperatures that had approached 40 C — appears to have passed, but daytime highs near 35 C are likely to persist for now.

"The pattern of heat this week will differ somewhat from last week, but nationwide heat and tropical nights are expected to continue," the Korea Meteorological Administration said.


hanira@heraldcorp.com