Heat Wave Emergency Warning Spreads Across the Capital Region... Highest Alert Level Issued for 14 Areas in Gyeonggi Province and Ganghwa, Incheon [FN Weather]

[Financial News] A heat wave emergency warning, the highest level of heat alert, will take effect at 11 a.m. on the 5th for all of Seoul, 14 subregions in Gyeonggi Province, and Ganghwa and northern Incheon. As the extreme heat that had centered on the Yeongnam and Jeolla regions through last weekend shifts to the Capital Region, the risk of heat-related illness for residents in Seoul and western and southern Gyeonggi Province during outdoor activities and commuting hours is rising further.
According to an alert issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) at 4 p.m. on the 4th, the heat wave warnings in Ansan-si, Gimpo, Pyeongtaek, northwestern Paju, southern Yongin, Ganghwa in Incheon, and northern Incheon will be upgraded to heat wave emergency warnings from 11 a.m. on the 5th.
As a result, the emergency warning will apply to 14 subregions in Gyeonggi Province: Ansan-si, Gimpo, Goyang, Osan, Pyeongtaek, Hanam-si, Anseong, northwestern Paju, southern Paju, northeastern Yongin, northwestern Yongin, southern Yongin, southeastern Yeoju, and western Yeoju.
All parts of Seoul, including the northeastern, northwestern, southeastern and southwestern districts, are subject to the emergency warning. In Incheon, Ganghwa and northern Incheon are included. In North Jeolla Province, Jeonju is also covered. In Jeollanam-do, Jangseong, Gwangyang, Suncheon, northern Gokseong, southern Gokseong and eastern Gwangju are also under the emergency warning.
The heat wave emergency warning is the highest-level alert, above both the heat wave advisory and the heat wave warning. It is issued when extreme heat is expected to cause serious casualties.
With seven areas in total, including five in Gyeonggi Province and two in Incheon, upgraded to the emergency warning level, the highest heat alert is now spreading across western and southern parts of the Capital Region.
Feels-like temperatures in the Capital Region had already climbed above 38 C on the day. As of 1 p.m. on the 4th, the day’s highest feels-like temperature in Ganam, Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, surged to 38.5 C. Namchon in Osan and Yangdo in Ganghwa, Incheon, each recorded 37.9 C, while Geumchon in Paju reached 37.8 C.
The highest feels-like temperatures at representative observation points in Seoul and Incheon were 36.1 C, while Suwon rose to 35.1 C. In the Jeolla region, the highest temperature was 38.3 C at the observation point at Chosun University in Gwangju.
As the heat absorbed during the day is not cooling off at night, tropical nights are also becoming more prolonged. According to the KMA's 'Heat Wave and Tropical Night Status,' the national average number of tropical nights from June 1 to Aug. 3 this year stood at 11.4 days, the highest for the same period since related statistics began in 1973. Based on the average of 62 observation points nationwide, that was 2.8 days more than the same period last year.
Jeju recorded 28 consecutive tropical nights from July 7 to Aug. 3, the longest stretch among major observation points nationwide. Seoul and Incheon each logged 13 straight tropical nights from July 22 to Aug. 3. Gwangju and Geoje Island also saw tropical nights continue for 13 days each, from July 16 to 28.
[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter