Seoul sees 22 tropical nights, most ever recorded in July

People spend time near Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain in Seocho District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Seoul has experienced 22 tropical nights so far this month — the most ever recorded in July since modern weather observations began in Korea in 1908. With another sweltering night in the forecast, the count is expected to rise to 23.

A tropical night — defined as a period when temperatures remain at or above 25 degrees Celsius between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. — can pose significant health risks, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable populations. The previous July record was 21 nights of elevated temperatures, set in 1994, when the Korean Peninsula endured one of its most severe heat waves on record, leading to widespread drought and thousands of deaths.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Seoul’s overnight low from Wednesday to Thursday was 29.3 degrees Celsius — the highest ever in July and the third-highest overall, even including August. The latest overnight temperature came close to what forecasters classify as a “super tropical night,” when temperatures remain above 30 degrees Celsius from dusk to dawn. Only two nights on record — Aug. 1 and 2 in 2018, with lows of 30.3 and 30.4 degrees, respectively — have surpassed that level.

Heat-related illnesses and fatalities continue to rise sharply. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 2,752 people have suffered heat-related conditions and 13 have died since the end of May through Tuesday — approximately 2.6 times and 3.3 times higher, respectively, than the same period last year.

In the same time span, more than 1.29 million farm animals have died from the heat — approximately six times the number recorded last year.

The heat is expected to continue, with daytime highs on Thursday forecast to reach between 31 and 37 degrees Celsius across the country due to hot, humid southeasterly winds and dry conditions. In Seoul, daytime highs are expected to stay between 33 and 36 degrees Celsius through next week, while nighttime lows will remain around 26 to 27 degrees.