Record July Temperatures and Prolonged Heat Alerts Hit South Korea

July 2024 marked the third hottest July on record for South Korea, with an average temperature of 26.8 °C. Only 1994 and 2025 recorded higher averages. The month also saw a new record for tropical nights – days where the minimum temperature stayed above 25 °C – averaging 9.7 such nights.

Heatwave advisories were active for an average of 8.9 days nationwide. The southeastern region experienced the longest alerts, with Daegu under warning for 22 days, Gumi for 21 days and Miryang for 20 days. In contrast, the capital Seoul saw heat advisories issued on just two days.

Rainfall during July fell to 220.2 mm, only 72.3% of the typical July total, intensifying drought conditions, especially in South Gyeongsang Province, where precipitation reached a mere 68 mm – just 21.9% of the normal average.

Officials warn that the combination of record heat and below‑average rain could strain water supplies and agricultural output throughout the rest of the season.