Tropical nights have spread across much of South Korea, with temperatures remaining above 25°C in numerous regions [1].
The persistent heat signals a growing public health challenge as the frequency of these high-temperature nights increases. This trend underscores the immediate impact of the climate crisis on the peninsula's seasonal weather patterns.
In the capital, Seoul recorded a night low temperature of 26.6°C [1]. Other cities experienced similar conditions, with Cheongju reaching 27.5°C and Daegu recording 27°C [1]. The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued a tropical-night warning at 4 p.m. yesterday [1].
While much of the country struggles with overnight heat, Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do remains under a heat-wave severe warning [1]. Local authorities continue to monitor the region as temperatures refuse to drop to safe levels during the night.
YTN reporter 고한석 said that many areas recorded minimum night temperatures above 25°C, leading to the widespread observation of tropical nights [1].
Long-term data suggests this is not an isolated event. The KMA analyzed observation data spanning 53 years to track these trends [1]. The results indicate that the number of tropical-night days over the last 10 years has increased three-fold compared with the early period of observations [1].
고한석 said that the surge in these overnight temperature spikes is a direct result of the ongoing climate crisis [1].
“the number of tropical-night days over the last 10 years has increased three-fold”
The three-fold increase in tropical nights over the last decade indicates that South Korea's climate is shifting toward a regime where nighttime cooling is less effective. This prevents the human body and urban infrastructure from recovering from daytime heat, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and elevating energy demand for cooling systems during the night.
