Korea overhauls heat wave alert system for 1st time in 18 years
Korea has overhauled its heat wave warning system for the first time in 18 years, introducing a new top-tier alert aimed at providing earlier warnings as increasingly extreme summer temperatures pose greater health risks. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) activated the revised system on Wednesday, replacing the previous two-tier structure with a three-stage framework consisting of a heat wave advisory, heat wave warning and the newly created severe heat wave warning. Under the previous system, a heat wave advisory was issued when the perceived temperature was forecast to remain above 33 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days, while a warning required apparent temperatures of 35 degrees or higher for two days. The new highest-level alert, however, can be issued if the perceived temperature is expected to reach 38 degrees or if the actual air temperature reaches 39 degrees for just one day, allowing authorities to respond immediately without waiting for prolonged extreme heat. The KMA said the change reflects the growing threat posed by unprecedented heat waves, whic
