Temperatures Soar to New Heights

All of Korea weltered in record tropical heat over the weekend. The mercury soared to 37.6 degrees Celsius in Samcheok, Gangwon Province and to 37.3 degrees in Daegu during the daytime on Sunday.

Daytime temperatures rose above 33 degrees in most parts, including 37.1 degrees in Pohang, 36.1 degrees in Gwangju, 34.4 degrees in Daejeon, and 33.2 degrees in Seoul.

The temperatures were four to seven degrees higher than the average at the time of year.

The Korea Meteorological Administration expanded a heat warning from the south to most parts of the country on Sunday.

Normally, the intense heat only scorches the country after the monsoon ends toward the end of July. But this year the heat set in right after the monsoon started on June 26.

This year's rainy season ended in just 16 days, only half the average 32 rainy days in previous years. Daytime temperatures in mid-July this year soared to a level normally seen in August.

The seasonal rain front moved north after a brief stay driven by a North Pacific anticyclone that is particularly strong this year.

The heat wave is expected to persist unless a typhoon arrives and pushes the North Pacific anticyclone away, the KMA predicted.