South Korea has broken a 117-year record for the number of sweltering nights in July, with temperatures in Seoul not dipping below 29.3 degrees Celsius (84.7 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, marking the 22nd “tropical night” so far this month. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the number of tropical nights in July is the highest since records began in 1908, surpassing the previous record of 21 tropical nights set in 1994.
A tropical night is defined as occurring when temperatures stay above 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) from 6:01 pm to 9 am the following day. This year’s heatwave has been particularly severe, with daily temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country. The KMA has warned that the heatwave will likely persist, with Seoul’s daily highs forecast to reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher through July 31.
The heatwave has had a devastating impact on public health, with at least 16 people dying from heat-related illnesses so far this year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The agency reported that nearly 2,200 people experienced heatwave-related illnesses between May 20 and July 25, with 87 cases reported on July 25 alone.
The heatwave has also affected the country’s food supply chain, particularly the dairy and aquaculture industries. Raw milk output has declined by 5-10% due to prolonged high temperatures, affecting milk production. Holstein cows, which make up the majority of South Korea’s dairy herd, are highly susceptible to heat stress, with intake and milk yield dropping sharply above 27°C. Aquaculture operations are also reeling, with mass die-offs of farmed flatfish reported in Jeju due to high water temperatures.
This extreme weather event is part of a larger trend of scorching temperatures across Asia. Japan recently experienced its hottest day in recorded history, with temperatures reaching 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.16 degrees Fahrenheit) in Tamba city, Hyogo prefecture.
Similarly, China has seen a record number of days with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius since mid-March. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, with 2024 being either the warmest or second warmest year on record.