Yangsan Hits 41.4°C: All-Time High Record in S. Korea's Weather History

[26.07.31] Yangsan Hits 41.4°C: All-Time High Record in S. Korea's Weather History — Tops 40°C for 3 Consecutive Days

On July 31st, daytime temperatures in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, reached an astounding 41.4°C, surpassing the previous official record of 41.0°C set in Hongcheon in 2018 by 0.4°C. Yangsan surpassed 40°C for the first time in its observation history and has continued an unprecedented streak of 3 consecutive days over 40°C. Here is a comprehensive overview of the record-breaking heatwave across the Gyeongsang region and the official emergency alerts issued.

1. Yangsan Reaches 41.4°C & Gimhae Hits 39.8°C… National High Records Rewritten

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the daily peak temperature in Yangsan reached 41.4°C at 1:40 PM on July 31st. This exceeds the previous national record high of 41.0°C set on August 1, 2018, in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, and shatters Yangsan's own record of 40.3°C set just the day before.

Even among Automatic Weather Station (AWS) unofficial records, Yangsan's 41.4°C ranks as the second-highest temperature ever recorded in South Korea between 1999 and 2025, just behind Gangbuk, Seoul (41.8°C in 2018). Yangsan has now set an unprecedented national milestone by recording temperatures over 40°C for three consecutive days.

Temperature records tumbled across the entire Gyeongsang region. Gimhae reached 39.8°C (beating its 2013 record of 39.2°C), while Uiryeong registered 39.7°C. Other locations including Bukchangwon (39.4°C), Changwon (39.0°C), Jinju (39.0°C), and Geochang (38.1°C) all recorded their highest temperatures in local weather history.

Yangsan Hits Historic 41.4°C! Breaking the 2018 Hongcheon record, an extreme heatwave continues as temperatures top 40°C for 3 days in a row.

2. Severe Heatwave Warnings Issued in Busan & Gyeongsang Area… Outdoor Activities Urged to Halt

As dangerous heat indices persisted, the KMA issued a high-level "Major Heatwave Warning" (Emergency Warning) for key areas in the Gyeongsang region, including central/western Busan, eastern Ulsan, Yangsan, Changwon, Gimhae, Miryang, Uiryeong, Changnyeong, and Jinju.

A Major Heatwave Warning is the highest level of weather advisory, triggered when peak apparent temperatures are expected to reach 38°C or higher for two or more consecutive days, posing severe risks to life and health. An official visiting from Japan remarked, "Seeing the government issue warnings at this level highlights the severity of the situation and the strength of the response framework."

The KMA strongly advised residents in affected zones to suspend or postpone all non-essential outdoor work and activities, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public cooling centers.

Highest Danger Advisory Issued! Major Heatwave Warnings are active in Busan, Yangsan, and Gimhae. Halting outdoor labor, staying hydrated, and finding air-conditioned shelters are vital.

3. No Rain in Early August… "Severe Heat & Tropical Nights to Continue"

With the North Pacific High firmly blanketing the Korean Peninsula, no rain is forecasted to relieve the intense heat, meaning the extreme temperatures will persist for the foreseeable future.

According to KMA extended forecasts, morning lows will hover between 21°C and 27°C, while daytime highs will range from 32°C to 38°C over the weekend of August 1–2—about 3°C to 5°C higher than seasonal averages. Tropical nights, where nighttime temperatures remain above 25°C, will also persist across Seoul and major metropolitan areas.

From August 4th through August 10th, the high-pressure system will continue to dominate, bringing clear skies and prolonged sweltering conditions with daytime highs ranging between 33°C and 38°C.

38°C Heatwave Persists into Early August! Without rain, high pressure will maintain intense daytime heat and tropical nights across the nation.

4. "Harder to Endure Than 50°C Back Home"… Foreign Residents Stunned by "Sauna Heat"

What makes this heatwave particularly dangerous is the combination of extreme temperatures and high humidity, producing a deadly "heat index explosion." The peak heat index reached 39.0°C in Yangsan, 38.4°C in Uiryeong, 37.9°C in Geumjeong-gu (Busan), and 37.8°C in Gimhae and Changwon, exposing the southern region to life-threatening conditions.

Foreign residents living in Daegu and Gyeongsang Province expressed shock at South Korea's summer weather. Even those hailing from notoriously hot countries agreed that Korea's muggy, high-humidity climate is much harder to endure than the heat back home.

• Expat from New Delhi, India (Age 36): "Summer temperatures in India exceed 50°C, but Daegu is harder to endure. There is no wind, making it suffocating. Having lived here for 10 years, it feels like sitting inside a steam sauna."
• Expat from Kenya (Age 33): "It feels much hotter than Kenya, completely unexpected. The muggy air wraps around your body during midday, so I survive on AC and watermelon."
• Expat from Germany (Age 29): "Germany can get over 40°C now, but the humidity in Daegu is on another level. Fortunately, air conditioning is widely available indoors."
• Expat from Kazakhstan (Age 36): "In my hometown of Almaty, it goes up to 38°C, but it is dry. Living in Korea for 16 years, summers seem to get progressively hotter every year."

Foreign Residents Stunned by Sauna Heat! Extremely high humidity combined with high temperatures pushes heat indices to dangerous levels, escalating the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Category	Key Details & Temperature Records
1. National High Records	Yangsan 41.4°C (All-time national record, 3 days over 40°C) / Gimhae 39.8°C / Uiryeong 39.7°C
2. Weather Advisories	Major Heatwave Warning issued in Busan, Ulsan, Yangsan, Changwon, Gimhae / Heatwave Advisories nationwide
3. Extended Forecast	No rain expected Aug 1–10; daytime highs of 32–38°C with ongoing tropical nights
4. Heat Index & Expats	Yangsan Heat Index 39.0°C peak / Expats from India, Kenya, Europe report humidity makes it harder than back home
5. Major City Temps	Daegu 37°C / Pohang 38°C / Samcheok 36.7°C / Sejong 35.9°C / Gwangju 35.1°C / Seoul 33.3°C

[Key Takeaways] 5 Summary Points on Yangsan's Historic 41.4°C Heatwave

1. All-Time Record 41.4°C: Yangsan broke South Korea's historical high-temperature record, passing Hongcheon's 2018 record (41.0°C).

2. 3 Days Over 40°C: First time in national weather history that a location recorded temperatures over 40°C for three consecutive days.

3. Major Heatwave Warnings: Emergency weather warnings issued across Busan, Yangsan, and Gimhae; outdoor work halt advised.

4. Prolonged August Heat: High-pressure system holds clear skies with 33–38°C temperatures lasting through at least August 10th.

5. Extreme Humidity Impact: High humidity combined with 39°C heat indices stunned expats from India, Kenya, and Europe alike.

Related Tags (9): July_31_2026, Yangsan41_4C, RecordHighTemperature, 3DaysOver40C, HeatwaveEmergency, KoreaHeatwave, MuggySaunaHeat, KoreaWeather, HeatIndex39C