Seoul: Temperatures for July this year were the third highest on record at an average of 26.8 C nationwide, the state weather agency said Wednesday. The highest recorded temperature was 27.7 C in 1994, followed by 27.1 C last year, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), which tracks records using 1973 as the base year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the number of tropical nights, when the lowest temperature was 25 C or above, reached an average of 9.7 days nationwide, setting a new record. The previous mark was 8.8 days in July 2024, followed by 8.5 days in July 1994, the KMA noted.

Additionally, a heat wave advisory was issued for an average of 8.9 days nationwide this July, as the daily maximum temperature soared to 33 C or higher. The southeastern region experienced the most intense heat, with advisories triggered on 22 days in Daegu, 21 days in Gumi, and 20 days in Miryang. In contrast, the central region had significantly fewer days under heat wave advisories, with only two in Seoul.

Nationwide precipitation in July was only 220.2 millimeters, or 72.3 percent of the average July rainfall of 296.5 mm, the KMA reported. Drought conditions were particularly severe in the southeastern South Gyeongsang Province, which received just 68 mm of rainfall last month, accounting for 21.9 percent of the average July precipitation of 304.7 mm.