Heat wave cooks up new record for consecutive tropical nights in Seoul, Busan

Seoul and Busan shattered records for the most consecutive tropical nights over the weekend, with the national weather agency initiating research into the phenomenon.

Residents keep cool under Mapo Bridge in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Seoul and Busan shattered records for the longest stretches of tropical nights as a brutal heat wave engulfs the nation, prompting the state weather agency to announce on Sunday that it will publish its first-ever white paper on heat waves.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that it is currently drafting the document, aiming for publication later this year.

The paper will include details such as heat wave records and analyze the causes and patterns of their formation.

Seoul recorded its 28th consecutive tropical night on Sunday, with the lowest temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, according to the KMA.

On Saturday, Seoul surpassed the previous record of 26 consecutive tropical nights set in 2018. By Sunday, the city extended its streak to the longest on record since modern meteorological observations began in 1907.

The latest streak began on July 21.

Busan also recorded its 24th consecutive tropical night on Sunday, with the lowest temperature dropping to 26.1 degrees Celsius overnight.

People gather at Haeundae Beach in Busan to cool off on Saturday. [NEWS1]

Other regions across the country are also enduring continuous sweltering nights.

Cheongju, the capital of North Chungcheong, recorded its 32nd consecutive tropical night on Saturday, four nights short of its record.

Jeju Island is enduring even longer periods of intense heat, with tropical nights continuing for the 34th consecutive day. Between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, temperatures reached 27.6 degrees Celsius in Jeju City, 26.8 degrees in Seogwipo, 25.1 degrees in Seongsan and 25.4 degrees in Gosan.

The island’s record for consecutive tropical nights is 44 days set in 2013, followed by 39 days in 2016.

On Saturday night in Hanam, Gyeonggi, where the temperature reached 30.1 degrees Celsius, over two dozen runners experienced heat exhaustion during a race.

During the 2024 Summer Night RUN race held at Misa Boat Race Park in Shinjang-dong, Hanam, 28 participants showed symptoms at around 7:42 p.m.

More than 30 calls were made to the 119 emergency hotline during that time.

Nineteen of the affected runners were classified as seriously injured due to loss of consciousness and were taken to the hospital for treatment, while the remaining participants received first aid on site.

None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

In response to the incident, fire authorities issued a level-one emergency response for the possibility of more cases and mobilized around 10 ambulances and fire trucks from Seoul and Gyeonggi. An on-site emergency medical center was also established.

The KMA expects the intense nighttime warmth to continue, with many regions likely to extend their tropical night streaks.

The administration attributes this prolonged heat to warm winds from the south blowing over the Korean Peninsula at night. Unlike in previous years, when tropical nights occurred primarily due to the inability of radiant heat gathered in the morning to dissipate at night, this year’s conditions have been exacerbated by warm southern winds coming in at night.

Rain is forecast for much of the country on Monday, although the increased humidity after the showers is expected to drive temperatures even higher.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]