Scorching Heat Hits 39.9°C: Why Gyeongsan and Pohang Are Facing 'Extreme Heat'

This summer, areas in the southeastern part of North Gyeongsang Province, including Gyeongsan and Pohang, are emerging as some of the hottest regions in the country.

As the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued its first-ever "severe heat wave warning" for Gyeongsan and Pohang this year, experts have analyzed that the extreme high-temperature phenomenon is caused by a combination of factors, including basin topography and high-pressure systems.

The Daegu Regional Meteorological Administration announced that an automatic weather station in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, recorded a daily high of 39.9°C (103.8°F) yesterday.

Other areas in southeastern North Gyeongsang Province also saw extremely high temperatures, with Sinam-dong in Dong-gu, Daegu reaching 38.4°C (101.1°F), Jungbang-dong in Gyeongsan hitting 37.9°C (100.2°F), and Gigye-myeon in Pohang recording 37.2°C (99.0°F).

Previously, on the 10th, daily high temperatures in parts of Gyeongsan and Gyeongju exceeded the official temperatures recorded at the Daegu weather station.

The KMA's decision to issue its first-ever severe heat wave warning for Gyeongsan and Pohang today reflects the extreme high-temperature phenomenon recently observed in these regions.

A severe heat wave warning is issued when a region where the daily maximum perceived temperature has been 35°C (95°F) or higher for at least two consecutive days is expected to see a perceived temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, or an actual temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) or higher.

This is the highest level of warning, newly established 18 years after the heat wave advisory system was introduced in 2008, and this marks the first time it has been issued since its implementation last month.

Currently, the Korean Peninsula is under the simultaneous influence of the Tibetan high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere and the North Pacific high-pressure system in the lower atmosphere, causing a thick layer of hot air to accumulate over the region.


The Daegu Regional Meteorological Administration explained, "In the case of Gyeongsan, the basin topography traps hot air, while in Pohang, the Foehn effect—a phenomenon where moist air becomes hot and dry wind as it crosses a mountain—combined with high humidity, causes the perceived temperature to rise significantly."

In particular, Gyeongsan, located in a basin adjacent to Palgong Mountain, experiences some of the most intense heat in the country every summer due to the added effect of the urban heat island.

Pohang also experiences high humidity due to high sea surface temperatures, and because temperatures do not drop at night, tropical nights persist for long periods. When combined with the Foehn effect, the perceived temperature appears much higher than the actual temperature.

Recently, the extreme heat has been spreading across the entire North Gyeongsang Province, with temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F) not only in Gyeongsan and Pohang but also in Gyeongju, Uiseong, and Yeongdeok.

The KMA analyzed that intense heat waves are occurring, centered on the southeastern part of North Gyeongsang Province, as the topographical effect of southerly winds heating up while crossing mountains adds to the heat.

However, the agency expects that temperatures will drop slightly from the middle of next week, and the extreme heat at the level of a severe warning will gradually subside.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.