South Korea experiences high temperatures and low rainfall in September

Regions in South Korea experienced significant climate variability during September, characterized by higher-than-average temperatures and exceptionally low precipitation.

In the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, the average temperature was 23.8 degrees Celsius, which is 1.8 degrees higher than the seasonal norm and marks the fifth highest September on record since 1973. The region also saw extremely low rainfall, with only 42.0mm recorded—just 27.5% of the typical amount. This lack of rain led to increased meteorological drought conditions.

Similarly, the Chungbuk region reported an average temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius, exceeding the norm by 1 degree. Precipitation in Chungbuk was even more severe, totaling only 11.2mm, which is just 7.9% of the average and represents the second lowest rainfall for September on record. Meteorological officials noted that while recent years have seen sustained heat, this year was marked by rapid temperature fluctuations and extreme dryness due to high-pressure systems and the influx of cold, dry air from the north.