Scorching heat continues to grip Korea; heat wave alert issued nationwide
A child plays in a fountain in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, to cool off. Yonhap
Most regions in Korea continued to experience scorching heat Saturday, with heat wave alerts issued across the country.
As of 1 p.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) had issued heat wave warnings for Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, the provinces of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong, and other areas.
The KMA also issued heat wave advisories for other parts of the country, including some parts of the eastern Gangwon Province, most of the southern resort island of Jeju, and the easternmost islands of Ulleung and Dokdo.
A heat wave warning is issued when the maximum apparent temperature is expected to remain above 35 degrees Celsius for two or more days or the heat is expected to cause large-scale damage, while a heat wave advisory is issued when the day's highest sensing temperature is expected to remain at 33 degrees or above for two or more days.
The apparent temperature in Seoul had surpassed the 35 degrees mark as of 1 p.m., with the mercury rising above 37 degrees in the north-western city of Paju.
The KMA said Saturday's maximum temperatures are expected to range from 32 degrees to 38 degrees, much higher than the seasonal average of 27.5 degrees to 32.1 degrees, advising people to take extra care of their health and avoid outdoor activities.
The heat wave is expected to continue into Sunday, with the highest daily temperature forecast to range from 32 degrees to 37 degrees, according to the weather agency.