This summer, the southeastern regions of Gyeongsangbuk-do, including Gyeongsan and Pohang, are emerging as the areas experiencing the most intense heat waves in the country.

As the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued its first severe heat wave warning of the year for Gyeongsan and Pohang, experts analyzed that a combination of basin topography and high-pressure systems is causing these extreme high-temperature phenomena.

The Daegu Regional Meteorological Administration reported that an automatic weather station in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, recorded a daytime high of 39.9°C (104°F) yesterday.

Other areas in southeastern Gyeongsangbuk-do also saw extremely high temperatures, including 38.4°C (101°F) in Sinam-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu; 37.9°C (100°F) in Jungbang-dong, Gyeongsan; and 37.2°C (99°F) in Gigye-myeon, Pohang.

The KMA's decision to issue the first severe heat wave warning of the year for Gyeongsan and Pohang today reflects the extreme heat recently observed in these regions.

A severe heat wave warning is issued when the daily maximum perceived temperature is expected to reach 38°C (100°F) or higher, or when the actual temperature is expected to reach 39°C (102°F) or higher, in areas where the daily maximum perceived temperature has been 35°C (95°F) or higher for at least two consecutive days.

Currently, the Korean Peninsula is being affected by both the upper-level Tibetan high-pressure system and the lower-level North Pacific high-pressure system, causing a thick layer of hot air to accumulate in the atmosphere.

The Daegu Regional Meteorological Administration explained that Gyeongsan, being a basin, traps hot air, while Pohang experiences a significant rise in perceived temperature due to the foehn effect combined with high humidity.

In particular, Gyeongsan records some of the highest levels of sweltering heat in the country every summer, as its basin topography, which meets Palgongsan Mountain, is compounded by the urban heat island effect.

Pohang also experiences much higher perceived temperatures than actual temperatures due to high humidity from high sea surface temperatures, prolonged tropical nights where temperatures do not drop at night, and the added impact of the foehn effect.

The KMA analyzed that intense heat waves are occurring primarily in the southeastern part of Gyeongsangbuk-do due to the topographical influence of southerly winds heating up as they cross over mountains.

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

Reported by Jeong Gyeong-yun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News