South Korea experienced record temperature fluctuations in October

South Korea recorded its fifth warmest October on record, with a national average temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees higher than the historical norm. The month was characterized by extreme temperature volatility, with daily averages swinging by as much as 14 degrees Celsius. Notably, Seoul reached a record high of 30.1 degrees Celsius on October 12, the highest temperature ever recorded in the city for that month since 1973.

The erratic weather patterns were driven by atmospheric waves from the North Atlantic and blocking high-pressure systems near the Ural Mountains, which caused alternating influxes of warm and cold air. Precipitation was also highly irregular: while the beginning of the month was exceptionally dry, the latter half saw frequent rainfall, resulting in a total monthly precipitation of 108.5 mm, approximately 1.7 times the normal amount.

Globally, climate scientists suggest these patterns are linked to a super El Nino, which contributed to October being one of the hottest months worldwide. Sea surface temperatures in the East Sea also reached their highest levels in a decade.