Seoul, July 30 — The ongoing heat wave is expected to continue for the time being, as the pressure system remains largely unchanged and hot and humid air continues to flow in from the south, the state weather service said Thursday.
The only change is that the hottest region will shift from the east to the west of the Baekdudaegan mountain range, which extends from the north to the south of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) said, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The KMA said the current weather pattern, in which the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High sit over the peninsula simultaneously, will remain unchanged for the time being. Far from weakening over time, these high-pressure systems will instead strengthen further as the air heats up and expands, it noted.
The stagnant pressure systems, combined with the continued inflow of hot and humid air from the south, will maintain clear skies and intensify solar heating, resulting in extremely hot weather.
Indeed, the KMA forecast that morning temperatures would be similar to or slightly higher than average, and daytime temperatures would exceed the average from August 2 to August 9. The mercury will range from 24 to 27 C in the morning and from 33 to 39 C during the day from August 3 to August 9, it added.
The agency said the wind direction is expected to shift to an easterly wind around August 4, raising temperatures in the western part of the Baekdudaegan mountain range, including the Seoul metropolitan area.
Seoul's daytime high is expected to soar to 37 C on August 5, while that of Busan will remain at 34 C on the same day. The southeastern city of Daegu will see its daytime highs range from 38 to 39 C next week.