People cool off at Mulbit Square along the Han River on Aug. 20, 2024 during the 30th consecutive tropical night, setting a new record in the capital. (Yonhap)
SEOUL – South Korea recorded its longest streak of tropical nights this year, as a prolonged heat wave continued to grip the country throughout August, the state weather agency said Sunday.
The number of tropical nights reached 20.2 days this year, outnumbering 16.8 days in 1994 and 16.7 days in 2018 since the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) began compiling the data in 1973, according to the KMA.
A tropical night refers to a phenomenon when the nighttime temperatures stay above 25 Celsius from 6:01 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following day.
The number of tropical nights in August reached 11.3 days in the first double-digit record for August, it added.
The number of days with daytime highs exceeding 33C also came in at 23.2 days, the third highest since 31 days in 2018 and 29.6 days in 1994.
The KMA said the peak of this year's heat wave has passed but high temperatures will likely continue into September, especially in the first 10 days of the month. (Yonhap)
