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Korea experiences summer-like April weather

Posted April. 21, 2018 07:27,   

Updated April. 21, 2018 07:27

한국어

Early summer-like temperatures have hit many parts of the world despite being the spring month of mid-April. Most regions in Korea saw daytime highs of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, or early summer temperatures, on Friday. Western Europe, which was hit by abnormal cold spells until a month ago, is also experiencing the hottest April weather in decades due to abnormally high temperatures this time.

The daytime high in Seoul hit 28 degrees Celsius on Friday, the second highest ever posted in mid-April since 1989 when the mercury hit 29.1 degrees Celsius. Korea has experienced “summer-like April” weather for the first time in 29 years. Temperatures hit 32.2 degrees Celsius in Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province, 31.8 degrees in Imsil, North Jeolla Province, and 30.6 degrees in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, a level of temperatures that are commonly monitored in early- to mid-July in ordinary years.

With temperatures soaring, this year’s first ozone alert was put in place Friday in many parts of the country. Ozone mostly emerges mostly during hot summer weather amid high temperatures and abundant sunlight. Busan, Cheongju, Wanju and Suncheon in South Jeolla Province saw this year’s first ozone alert in place. The Gyeonggi provincial region was placed under ozone alert for second consecutive days. The ozone alert has thus been issued 11 days earlier this year than last year.

The heat wave has hit Korea due to influx en mass of warm southern air currents, as cold wave steaming through mid- to high-latitude regions in the northern hemisphere was directed significantly towards the north of the Korean Peninsula.

“Prematurely hot weather is a temporary phenomenon resulting from the streaming of wave rather than impact from global warming,” the Korea Meteorological Administration said. “However, we should be wary of gradually rising average temperatures worldwide.” Last year, the average temperature was 0.46 degree higher than ordinary years in the world and 0.6 degree higher in Korea.


Mee-Jee Lee image@donga.com