This Spring, Filled with Sunshine, Was the Second Hottest on Record

This spring was recorded as the second hottest spring since 1973, when the weather observation network was expanded nationwide.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced that the nationwide average temperature this spring, from March to May, was 13.3°C (56°F), which is 1.4°C (2.5°F) higher than the average spring temperature of 11.9°C (53°F).

The "direct reason" is that the country was under the influence of high-pressure systems, leading to many clear days.

However, climate change is cited as the "fundamental cause," given that all but one of the top 10 warmest springs have occurred since 2010.

The warmest periods last spring were late March, mid-April, and mid-May.

In particular, the nationwide average temperature in mid-May was 19.7°C (67°F), the highest on record for that period.

On May 16 in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province; May 17 in Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province; and May 18 in Mungyeong, Andong, and Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, temperatures rose above 33°C (91°F), marking the earliest heatwaves since weather observations began in each region.

The seas around the Korean Peninsula were also warm last spring.

The average sea surface temperature in the surrounding waters was 14.0°C (57°F), the second highest in the past 10 years, following 2024.

With the strong inflow of warm currents such as the Tsushima Warm Current and the East Korea Warm Current, sea surface temperatures in March, April, and May were all higher than last year's temperatures and the 10-year average.

Meanwhile, precipitation last spring was 268.1 mm, which is similar to the average year.

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