Topic overview
In brief
- South Korea recorded its highest temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius in Yangsan on August 2, 2026.
- Heat warnings and emergency alerts were issued across more than 20 localities in the country.
- Scientists link the increasing frequency of heatwaves to climate change driven by human activity.
Summary
On August 2, 2026, South Korea experienced an unprecedented heatwave, with the southeastern city of Yangsan recording a staggering temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature marks the highest ever recorded since the country began keeping national weather records over a century ago. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that this was the fifth consecutive day that temperatures in Yangsan exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), highlighting the severity of the ongoing heatwave.
The extreme weather conditions have prompted heat warnings across much of South Korea, with many cities experiencing temperatures in the upper 30s. More than 20 localities were placed under emergency heatwave alerts, a new warning category introduced this year in response to increasingly severe summer temperatures. The emergency alert is issued when forecasts predict a perceived temperature of at least 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) or an actual temperature of 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher for a single day. The KMA has noted that the average annual number of heatwave days has more than doubled over the past five years, increasing from an average of eight days in the 1970s to 19 days.