The heat is set to intensify further west of the Baekdudaegan mountain range on Monday, with daytime temperatures forecast to reach 37°C in Seoul and 39°C in Gwangju.

This is because winds in the lower atmosphere near the surface have shifted to easterlies, extending the influence of the Foehn effect—one of the factors that recently brought record-breaking heat to the Gyeongsang region—to the greater Seoul metropolitan area and other western regions of the Baekdudaegan.

The Foehn effect is a phenomenon where wind becomes hotter and drier as it crosses over mountains.

Looking at expected daytime highs for major cities today, western areas such as Gwangju (39°C), Seoul, and Daejeon (37°C) are forecasted to experience higher temperatures than Busan (35°C) and Ulsan (35°C).

However, Daegu and Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province, which are basins that trap heat, are expected to see daytime highs reach 39°C again today.

Nationwide, daytime highs are projected to range between 33°C and 39°C.

The heat wave is expected to persist for the time being.

On August 4, morning lows are forecasted at 23°C to 27°C and daytime highs at 31°C to 37°C, while August 5 is expected to see lows of 22°C to 27°C and highs of 30°C to 37°C.

On August 6, the expected morning lows are 20°C to 27°C with daytime highs of 29°C to 37°C, followed by morning temperatures of 22°C to 27°C and daytime temperatures of 31°C to 38°C from August 7 through August 13.

Showers are possible in the southern inland areas of Gangwon Province and northern Chungcheongbuk-do between late afternoon and evening today, but with a small precipitation amount of 5 to 10 mm, they will do nothing to alleviate the heat.

Due to strong sunlight, ozone concentrations nationwide—excluding Gangwon Province—are expected to reach "bad" levels or higher this afternoon.

Ozone levels in South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces are forecasted to soar to "very bad" levels.

(Photo: Yonhap News)