The Korea Meteorological Administration issued severe heat wave warnings for 14 regions after the monsoon season effectively ended on July 25 [1], [2].
This rapid transition from heavy rainfall to extreme heat poses significant public health risks and stresses infrastructure across the southern regions of the country.
Temperatures surged in several cities, with Gyeongsan recording a maximum of 39.3°C [3]. Other cities, including Yangsan and Miryang, also saw temperatures exceed 39°C [3]. In Gyeongju, the perceived temperature over the weekend was approximately 35°C [4].
Weather officials said the extreme heat is caused by a high-pressure, hot, and humid North Pacific anticyclone that settled over the peninsula. This occurred after the stationary front, which brought unpredictable and concentrated rainfall, moved northward toward North Korea [2], [5].
"The monsoon that poured down extreme rain has virtually ended, and the period of full-scale extreme heat has begun," an anchor said during a YTN broadcast [6].
Reporter Park So-jung said the stationary front, often described as "goblin rain" or "pincet rain" due to its unpredictable nature, has shifted north [7]. The resulting weather pattern has left many areas facing relentless heat during both day and night.
Yu Da-hyun of the Korea Meteorological Administration said the heat continues as the monsoon reaches its end [8]. The expansion of the severe warning area to 14 regions indicates a widespread atmospheric shift affecting a large portion of the country's southern and central geography [3].
“The monsoon that poured down extreme rain has virtually ended, and the period of full-scale extreme heat has begun.”
The swift shift from the 'pincet' monsoon—characterized by highly localized, intense bursts of rain—to a severe heat wave suggests increasing climatic volatility on the Korean Peninsula. The dominance of the North Pacific anticyclone creates a 'heat dome' effect, where high pressure traps hot, humid air, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and agricultural stress across the 14 affected regions.
