South Korea faces extreme summer heat and localized flooding

South Korea experienced extreme weather patterns during the summer of 2026, characterized by intense heatwaves, localized heavy rainfall, and regional droughts. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the national average temperature was 25.4 degrees Celsius, the third highest since 1973.

Extreme heat was a defining feature, with temperatures exceeding 39 degrees Celsius recorded 42 times across 83 observation points, the highest frequency since 2010. Notably, Yangsan in Gyeongsangnam-do reached a record-breaking high of 42.5 degrees Celsius. Tropical nights were also prevalent, with the national average of 18.2 days being nearly triple the normal level.

While overall summer precipitation was lower than average, the country faced severe localized flooding. In Geoje, rainfall reached 124.5 mm per hour, and a total of 968.1 mm fell over a four-day period in mid-August, nearly matching the city's average annual rainfall. This occurred alongside significant droughts in southern regions and Jeju, where monsoon rainfall was less than half of the seasonal average.