Highest-level heat warnings issued for southeastern Korea

The weather agency on Sunday issued grave heat wave warnings for Daegu and other southeastern parts of Korea as temperatures climbed well above 30 degrees Celsius.

The highest-level heat warnings took effect for southwestern parts of Daegu, and the nearby city of Gyeongsan and the county of Cheongdo, both in North Gyeongsang Province, at 11 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The southeastern cities of Pohang and Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, had already been placed under the highest-level heat warnings earlier in the day.

As of 1 p.m., temperatures had reached 38.4 degrees in Gyeongju, 35.4 degrees in Daegu and 32.1 degrees in Pohang.

The KMA said as of 3:10 p.m., the maximum apparent temperatures for Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, and Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, had risen to 38.3 degrees.

It marked the latest issuance of the highest heat warnings since the weather agency adopted a new heat warning system on June 1 to alert the public to extreme heat.

A highest-level heat warning is issued when the daily high is forecast to reach 39 degrees or higher in areas where the apparent temperature has reached 35 degrees or higher for at least two consecutive days.

Korea issued its first highest-level heat warnings for Gyeongsan and Pohang on July 12.

On Monday, the morning lows across the country are expected to reach 22-26 degrees, and daytime highs are forecast to range between 28 and 37 degrees.