- South Korea has recorded its hottest day on record, with temperatures in Yangsan exceeding 40C (104F) for the fifth consecutive day.
- Emergency alerts have been issued across more than 20 localities in South Korea amid the ongoing record heatwave.
- Extreme weather conditions are being reported globally, with Japan issuing heatstroke alerts for 30 of its 47 prefectures due to severe heat.
- Europe is experiencing wildfires fueled by high temperatures and strong winds, particularly in Greece, while Spain and France face hot, dry conditions.
- In North Africa, extreme heat and powerful winds are driving major wildfires in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, with Tunisia deploying international firefighting aircraft.
- The western United States is also facing a dangerous heatwave, with forecasters warning that temperatures could break records and increase wildfire risks.
South Korea is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave, with Yangsan recording a staggering 42.5°C (108.5°F), the highest temperature since records began over a century ago.123
This extreme weather event marks the fifth consecutive day of temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) in the region.
Emergency heatwave alerts are in effect for over 20 localities, a new warning category introduced this year due to increasingly severe summer temperatures. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) defines a heatwave day as one where temperatures reach at least 33°C (91.4°F), while a tropical night occurs when overnight temperatures do not fall below 25°C (77°F).
Data from KMA indicates that the average annual number of heatwave days has more than doubled over the past five years, rising to 19 days compared to an average of eight days in the 1970s.
Scientists attribute the intensification of heatwaves and other extreme weather events to climate change driven by human activity. This phenomenon is not isolated to South Korea; similar extreme weather patterns are being observed globally.
In Japan, heatstroke alerts have been issued for 30 of the country's 47 prefectures, while Europe faces wildfires fueled by high temperatures in Greece, Spain, and France. North Africa is also battling extreme heat and wildfires in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, with emergency crews deployed to combat the blazes.5678
As climate change continues to escalate, the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events are expected to increase.
“Yangsan saw its fifth consecutive day above 40C (104F), with more than 20 localities under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday. In Japan, heatstroke alerts were issued for 30 of 47 prefectures; wildfires forced evacuations in Greece, and Tunisia deployed international firefighting aircraft.”
