KMA Issues First-Ever Heavy Heat Wave Warning for Seoul and Gyeonggi

Capital Region Enters Uncharted Territory With First Heat Wave Warning

South Korea’s capital region encountered extreme heat conditions as meteorological authorities announced the first heavy heat wave warning for parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The special advisory, set to take effect at 11 a.m. on August 4, applies when daily highs are expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius or when the daily maximum feels-like temperature hits 38 degrees Celsius. This newly introduced heavy heat wave warning was issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 3rd, marking the first time the alert has been implemented in the capital area covering sections of southeastern and southwestern Seoul, alongside Hanam, Osan, and western Yeoju.

The atmospheric shift responsible for the capital’s worsening conditions stems from a change in lower-atmosphere wind directions. Lower-level winds shifted from a western flow to an easterly current, sending air masses across the Taebaek Mountains that accumulated intense heat before descending upon the western side of the Baekdudegan range. Previously, the winds had traversed the mountains to heat up the Gyeongsang regions, but the weather pattern shift has now driven significant temperature spikes across the western side of the peninsula, pushing automated weather observation equipment in Guro, Seoul, up to 39 degrees Celsius.

Extreme Temperatures Spread Across Gyeongsang and Honam Regions

While the continuous streak of temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in Yangsan paused slightly as daytime readings stopped at 39.4 degrees Celsius following a previous peak of 42.5 degrees Celsius, neighboring areas recorded severe heat readings. Miryang reached 41 degrees Celsius, Uiryeong hit 40.7 degrees Celsius, Hapcheon recorded 40.2 degrees Celsius, and Gwangyang reached 40.3 degrees Celsius. Automated weather observation systems registered even higher unofficial marks, including 41.2 degrees Celsius in Goryeong, 41.1 degrees Celsius in Gwangyang within the Jeonnam-Gwangju area, 41.1 degrees Celsius in Daegu, and 40.1 degrees Celsius in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

Further west, Gwangju and surrounding areas broke daily high temperature records. Gwangju reached 38.8 degrees Celsius, while Wando recorded 37.6 degrees Celsius, Namwon hit 38.5 degrees Celsius, and Sunchang reached 38.1 degrees Celsius. Authorities expanded highest-tier heat warnings to parts of Gwangju’s eastern district alongside Boseong, Yeosu, Gwangyang, Suncheon, and Gokseong, where Yeosu’s feels-like temperature climbed to 40 degrees Celsius, and overall daytime temperatures across Jeonnam-Gwangju reached 38.8 degrees Celsius to set new regional records.

Government Emergency Response and Extended Forecast

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety elevated its Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to a Level 2 response, coordinating nationwide efforts to monitor heat damage and manage emergency countermeasures. Officials at the government complex in Sejong reviewed ongoing protective measures as long-duration heat continued to strain infrastructure.

Aside from essential duties, all outdoor activities and field work should be suspended as much as possible. People must move to cool places such as shade, heat wave shelters, or air-conditioned facilities, stay hydrated, and take rest.

Weather agency official, Korea Meteorological Administration

Medium-term forecasts indicate that the weather system will remain stable without significant rainfall until at least August 13, showing no major disruptions in the surrounding baric systems. Double-layered high-pressure systems originating from Tibet and the North Pacific continue to trap warm, humid air across the Korean Peninsula under clear skies, keeping daily nationwide highs between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius. Summer tropical night counts reached a record 10.6 days by August 2 to rank first historically, while heat wave days stood at 11.3 days as the fourth-highest on record, with potential to climb toward the all-time record of 31 days set during the summer of 2018.

Typhoon Dolphin Approaches as Potential Weather Disruptor

Forecasters are monitoring the path of Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the season, which carried a central pressure of 940 hPa and maximum winds of 47 meters per second as a powerful level-4 storm. The storm moved west-northwest at 18 kilometers per hour from waters approximately 1520 kilometers east of Okinawa, Japan, as of 9 a.m. on August 3. While the typhoon is projected to pass near Okinawa around August 7, its subsequent trajectory remains uncertain. A westward track toward China could intensify easterly winds and amplify heat in western regions, whereas a northward shift toward the Korean Peninsula could alleviate drought conditions while introducing severe storm risks.