Yangsan city in South Korea recorded a daytime high of 42.5°C on Sunday, breaking its all-time observed maximum temperature [1].
This unprecedented heat spike represents a critical escalation in regional climate patterns, as the city has now surpassed its own historical records for three straight days [1]. The intensity of the heat wave poses significant risks to public health and infrastructure in the South Gyeongsang Province.
The temperature peaked at 13:26 local time [1, 2]. This follows a pattern of extreme heat that began on July 29, with temperatures remaining above 40°C for five consecutive days [1]. On July 31, the city had previously set a record of 41.4°C, which had already surpassed a previous national benchmark of 41°C set in Hongcheon on Aug. 1, 2018 [1].
Other cities in the region, including Changwon, Gimhae, and Gyeongju, also saw temperatures exceed 40°C [1]. Meteorologists attribute the extreme conditions to two high-pressure systems surrounding the Korean peninsula combined with local terrain effects from Gajisan and nearby mountains [1].
"The daytime high temperature in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, soared to 42.5 degrees," said YTN anchor [3]. Reporter Jang Ah-young said that the temperature reached this peak at 1:26 p.m. [4].
Jang described the conditions as "murderous temperatures," and said that the reading was six degrees higher than average human body temperature [5].
“Yangsan recorded a daytime high of 42.5°C on Sunday, breaking its all-time observed maximum temperature.”
The repeated breaking of all-time temperature records over a 72-hour period suggests a breakdown in typical regional cooling patterns. The combination of dual high-pressure systems and specific mountainous topography in South Gyeongsang Province has created a 'heat trap' effect, signaling that urban centers in South Korea may need to prepare for a new baseline of extreme summer peaks that exceed previous historical norms.
