Seoul is preparing for its first severe heatwave warning on Tuesday as a deadly heatwave moves west across South Korea. The capital, home to more than 9 million people, is forecast to reach 38C, followed by three days at about 37C, after the south-eastern city of Yangsan recorded a national temperature record of 42.5C on Sunday.
The heat has been linked to 16 deaths and more than 2,000 cases of heat-related illness since May, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The warning is the first issued for Seoul under a new system introduced this year, while authorities are increasing welfare checks, road cooling and inspections of power infrastructure as air-conditioning demand rises.
At a glance:
- Yangsan reached 42.5C on Sunday, the highest temperature recorded in 122 years of observations.
- South Korea has reported 16 heat-related deaths and more than 2,000 heat illness cases since May.
- Seoul is deploying 200 water trucks and checking on as many as 63,000 vulnerable residents.
Record temperatures push heat westward
The country’s highest temperature on Monday was 41.2C in Goryeong, while several cities and regions exceeded 41C. Seoul reached 39C in the Guro district, illustrating how the heat is affecting the capital before the forecast peak on Tuesday.
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The Korea Meteorological Administration says overlapping high-pressure systems over the Korean peninsula, clear skies and strong direct sunlight are driving the heatwave. In South Gyeongsang province, including the south-eastern area where Yangsan is located, winds crossing mountains have created a foehn effect that brings hotter, drier air to the other side.
Typhoon Dolphin could alter conditions but its effect remains uncertain. A track towards eastern China could raise humidity and worsen the heat and tropical nights in Korea; a path closer to the southern peninsula could bring wind, cloud and rain that temporarily reduce temperatures. As of Monday, the typhoon was moving west towards Okinawa and was forecast to weaken before making landfall as a category 1 or 2 storm.
Seoul expands protections for vulnerable people
Seoul authorities held an emergency meeting on Monday and began measures aimed at reducing health risks. Nurses are checking on up to 63,000 residents considered especially vulnerable, including older people and those with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
More context: Strong Typhoon Noul Hits Southern China and Hong Kong, Forcing Over 715,000 to Evacuate.
The city is also using 200 trucks to spray water across almost 2,000km of roads, with the vehicles operating as often as six times daily in the areas most affected by heat. Mist-spray zones are offering some relief, while commuters have been avoiding direct sunlight and searching for shade even during the cooler morning hours.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to protect people’s daily lives and inspect power systems as demand for air conditioning increases. He said the national crisis-management system needed a fundamental overhaul because extreme weather was becoming normal, linking the immediate response to wider concerns about repeated heat emergencies.
Outdoor workers face the greatest exposure
People working outside are bearing much of the strain. A construction worker in Seoul told the Korea Times that crews take a 10-minute break each hour but have no fan, leaving shade as their main refuge. A supermarket car-park worker in Gwangmyeong described poorly ventilated conditions as similar to being in a sauna, and concern has also been raised about food-delivery riders.
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Officials in North Gyeongsang province are using drones with loudspeakers to broadcast heat-safety messages. The aircraft also carry thermal-imaging cameras to monitor crowded areas where people are spending summer holidays, adding surveillance to conventional public warnings.
The Korea Meteorological Administration’s forecast will depend partly on Dolphin’s path and on how long the high-pressure systems persist. Meanwhile, authorities are continuing emergency measures as South Korea confronts a heatwave that scientists say reflects a broader pattern of more frequent and intense extreme weather associated with human-caused climate change.
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