KOR
▲ Heatwave
The daytime temperature in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, surpassed 42 degrees today (August 2), breaking South Korea's highest temperature record once again.
As of 1:27 PM today, the temperature in Yangsan was recorded at 42.5°C (108.5°F).
This comes just a day after yesterday's high of 41.6°C (106.9°F) broke the previous record, setting new highs on consecutive days.
Yangsan's reading of 42.5°C (108.5°F) is unprecedented in the 122-year history of modern meteorological observations in South Korea.
Modern weather observations in the country began in 1904, and a higher temperature than today's reading in Yangsan has never been recorded before.
The 42.5°C (108.5°F) reading is the highest temperature ever recorded, taking into account not only the 97 surface weather observation stations (automated synoptic observing systems) whose temperature rankings are managed by the Korea Meteorological Administration, but also the more than 550 automatic weather station (AWS) locations nationwide (as of 2025).
Looking at AWS data compiled by the Korea Meteorological Administration since 1973, there were instances where yesterday's high in Yangsan (41.6°C / 106.9°F) was exceeded—such as 41.9°C (107.4°F) in Jiwol-ri, Chowol-eup, Gju-si, Gyeonggi-do, and 41.8°C (107.2°F) in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, on August 1, 2018, and 41.6°C (106.9°F) in Geumsa-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, on August 4, 2024—but temperatures had never reached the 42-degree range.
Typically, the highest temperature of the day occurs about two hours after the sun reaches its highest point. Since the sun peaks around 12:30 PM, peak temperatures are frequently recorded between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM or 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Therefore, the possibility that temperatures in Yangsan could climb above 43°C (109.4°F) later today cannot be ruled out.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
