South Korea undergoes unprecedented series of tropical nights
Seoul, Busan, and various regions of South Korea are experiencing an extraordinary heat wave, resulting in record-breaking numbers of consecutive tropical nights.
TroibNews 
Seoul, Busan, and other regions across South Korea are currently facing an unusual and severe heatwave, breaking records for the number of consecutive tropical nights.
A tropical night is defined as a night where the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius between 6:01 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next morning.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that Seoul has experienced 28 tropical nights continuously since July 21.
This marks the longest sequence of such nights recorded since weather observations began in 1907 in Seoul. The previous record was 26 nights, occurring in 2018.
In Busan, the stretch has reached 24 consecutive tropical nights starting from July 25, topping the earlier record of 21 nights noted in 1994 and again in 2018.
Warm southerly winds persistently blowing across the area have intensified the usual effects of daytime heat spilling into the night, causing higher than normal night-time temperatures for the past month.
"The cold air is not coming down from the north," stated Youn Ki-han, director at Seoul's Meteorology Forecast Division.
"Usually around this time, the temperature drops in the morning and evening ... but currently, we aren't seeing any signs of that yet," Youn added.
Despite the prediction of heavy rainfall on Monday, the high temperatures are expected to resume quickly, perpetuating the tropical night conditions.
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has provided data showing a 52 percent increase over the past 30 years in days recording temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius in major world capitals.
In 2018, Seoul saw 21 days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, which is higher than the total recorded in the previous decade.
"In just one generation, there's been an alarming increase," commented Tucker Landesman, a senior researcher at IIED.
The KMA has expressed its plans to issue its inaugural white paper on heatwaves by year-end, addressing the growing severity of recent heatwave events perceived as reaching disaster proportions. This paper follows earlier publications on related topics such as monsoons, typhoons, and El Niño but will be specifically focused on heatwaves.
(With input from AFP)
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
A tropical night is defined as a night where the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius between 6:01 p.m. and 9 a.m. the next morning.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that Seoul has experienced 28 tropical nights continuously since July 21.
This marks the longest sequence of such nights recorded since weather observations began in 1907 in Seoul. The previous record was 26 nights, occurring in 2018.
In Busan, the stretch has reached 24 consecutive tropical nights starting from July 25, topping the earlier record of 21 nights noted in 1994 and again in 2018.
Warm southerly winds persistently blowing across the area have intensified the usual effects of daytime heat spilling into the night, causing higher than normal night-time temperatures for the past month.
"The cold air is not coming down from the north," stated Youn Ki-han, director at Seoul's Meteorology Forecast Division.
"Usually around this time, the temperature drops in the morning and evening ... but currently, we aren't seeing any signs of that yet," Youn added.
Despite the prediction of heavy rainfall on Monday, the high temperatures are expected to resume quickly, perpetuating the tropical night conditions.
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has provided data showing a 52 percent increase over the past 30 years in days recording temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius in major world capitals.
In 2018, Seoul saw 21 days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, which is higher than the total recorded in the previous decade.
"In just one generation, there's been an alarming increase," commented Tucker Landesman, a senior researcher at IIED.
The KMA has expressed its plans to issue its inaugural white paper on heatwaves by year-end, addressing the growing severity of recent heatwave events perceived as reaching disaster proportions. This paper follows earlier publications on related topics such as monsoons, typhoons, and El Niño but will be specifically focused on heatwaves.
(With input from AFP)
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
