Yangsan, South Korea hits 40.3°C as record‑breaking heatwave sweeps peninsula

Yangsan 40.3°C heatwave South Korea drought

On July 29 2026 the city of Yangsan recorded a temperature of 40.3 °C, the highest since systematic observations began in 2008. Nearby Busan reached 38.6 °C, the hottest temperature there since records started in 1904. The extreme heat is being driven by a double high‑pressure system over the North Pacific and the Tibetan Plateau, which traps hot air and creates “föhn‑type” warming across the Korean Peninsula.

The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued heat‑wave emergency warnings for the southeastern region, covering Yangsan, Busan, Changwon, Gimhae, Miryang, Uiryeong and Changnyeong. Daytime temperatures of 38‑39 °C are common, with tropical nights (overnight lows above 25 °C) persisting nationwide. Drought conditions have lowered the water level of Miryang Dam to 34.1 % and prompted water‑use restrictions in parts of Gyeongsangnam‑do.

Three heat‑related deaths have been reported in Gyeongsangnam‑do, and livestock losses include more than 12,000 chickens and 3,500 pigs. Authorities have opened cooling centers, advised the public to limit outdoor activity, and distributed cooling equipment to vulnerable residents. Forecasts predict the heatwave will continue into the following week with temperatures remaining near 39‑40 °C, although a shift in wind direction may raise temperatures further in western regions.

Entities

Busan · Busan (South Korea) · Daegu City Development Corporation · Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency · Korea Meteorological Administration · Milyang Dam · Miryang Dam · South Korea · Uiryeong · Yangsan · Yangsan (South Korea)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The previous Yangsan record of 39.3 °C was set on 26 July 2026. www.hani.co.kr
[● 5 SOURCES] A double high‑pressure system over the North Pacific and Tibet is driving the extreme heat. www.hani.co.kr · www.seoul.co.kr
[● 5 SOURCES] Most of South Korea is under a heat‑wave alert with daytime highs near 40 °C and nighttime lows staying above 25 °C. www.hani.co.kr · www.koreatimes.co.kr
[● 5 SOURCES] Busan recorded a temperature of 38.6 °C, the highest since 1904. www.hani.co.kr · www.seoul.co.kr
[○ 1 SOURCE] 2024‑2026 marks the third consecutive year that South Korea has recorded temperatures above 40 °C, indicating a new normal for extreme heat.
[● 2 SOURCES] The Korea Meteorological Administration issued extreme‑heat warnings for Yangsan, Uiryeong and Changnyeong, expecting heat‑index values above 38 °C. www.hani.co.kr
[DISPUTED] Yangsan recorded a temperature of 39.9 °C on 29 July 2026. www.hani.co.kr
[● 2 SOURCES] The 39.9 °C reading is the highest temperature recorded in Yangsan since observations began in December 2008. www.hani.co.kr
[● 2 SOURCES] Miryang Dam water level fell to 34.1 % on 28 July, prompting drought alerts. www.hani.co.kr
[DISPUTED] Three heat‑related deaths were reported in Gyeongsangnam‑do up to 28 July. www.hani.co.kr · www.seoul.co.kr
[DISPUTED] Yangsan recorded a temperature of 40.3 °C on 29 July 2026. www.hani.co.kr · www.seoul.co.kr
[● 4 SOURCES] A heat‑wave emergency warning was issued for the southeastern region, including Busan, Yangsan, Changwon, Gimhae, Miryang, Uiryeong and Changnyeong. www.koreatimes.co.kr · www.hani.co.kr