Seoul's daytime temperature is forecast to reach 31 °C on Thursday, marking the hottest day of the year so far [1].
This sudden spike in temperature represents a significant departure from seasonal norms, potentially impacting public health and energy demand as the region experiences an early onset of extreme heat.
YTN weather caster Jung Su-hyun said the temperature in Seoul is expected to be about eight to 10 °C higher than the historical average [5]. This deviation is driven by strong sunshine and east-to-west winds moving over the mountains, which creates hot and dry conditions across the western part of the country [4].
Other cities are also seeing high temperatures. Daejeon is forecast to reach 30 °C, while Gwangju is expected to hit 29 °C [3, 4]. Early morning readings were more moderate, with Seoul at 15.3 °C and Sejong at 14 °C [2].
While the west remains dry and hot, other regions will face volatile weather. Jung said that atmospheric instability will lead to "disturbing showers" passing through the Honam region from the afternoon into the evening [1].
The Honam region, located in the south-west of the country, is particularly susceptible to these isolated showers due to the current atmospheric conditions [4]. This creates a stark contrast in weather patterns across the peninsula, where extreme heat and sudden precipitation are occurring simultaneously.
Jung said, "Especially as the daytime temperature in Seoul rises to 31 degrees, it will greatly exceed the average temperature by nearly 10 degrees and be the hottest day of the year [1]."
“Seoul's daytime temperature is forecast to reach 31 °C, marking the hottest day of the year so far.”
The occurrence of a 31 °C peak in mid-May suggests a volatile spring transition in South Korea. When temperatures deviate by as much as 10 °C from the norm, it often indicates larger atmospheric shifts that can lead to unpredictable weather patterns, such as the simultaneous occurrence of extreme heat in the capital and unstable precipitation in the south-west.
