Gwangmyeong: Temperatures in the western South Korean cities of Gwangmyeong and Paju soared above 40 C on Tuesday, marking the highest July temperatures ever recorded in the country, the state weather agency said.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that Paju reached 40.1 C at around 3:24 p.m., while Gwangmyeong hit 40.2 C at approximately 3:42 p.m., based on data from its automated weather stations.

It was the first time temperatures in South Korea surpassed 40 C since August 4 of the previous year, when Yeoju experienced 40 C during what was recorded as the hottest year in the country's history. South Korea has witnessed only a few instances of temperatures exceeding 40 C. Daegu recorded 40 C on August 1, 1942. After a long gap, several regions, including Hongseong, Chuncheon (north), Uiseong, Yangpyeong, and Chungju, saw temperatures rise above 40 C on August 1, 2018. Uiseong again crossed 40 C on August 14 that year, and on August 5, 2019, Anseong in Gyeonggi Province also hit 40.2 C.

The highest temperature ever recorded in South Korea since modern records began in 1904 was 41 C in Hongcheon on August 1, 2018, according to the KMA. On Tuesday, Seoul registered its highest temperature for early July since record-keeping began in the capital city in 1908, with the mercury climbing to 37.7 C at around 3 p.m. The previous record for the first 10 days of July in the capital was 36.8 C, set on July 9, 1939, according to the agency.

In addition to Seoul, new high temperature records for early July were set in several cities nationwide, including Incheon (35.6 C), Wonju of Gangwon Province (35.4 C), Suwon of Gyeonggi Province (35.7 C), Cheongju of North Chungcheong Province (35.7 C), Daejeon (36.3 C), Gochang of North Jeolla Province (35.8 C), and Busan (34.5 C), as reported by the weather agency.

The sweltering weather conditions are expected to slightly ease around Friday, but the heat will continue due to the influx of hot and humid air from the south. The heat wave is forecast to persist until some rainfall in the capital area and western Gangwon Province around July 16. Seoul experienced its ninth consecutive tropical night between Monday and Tuesday.

According to the weather agency, the nation's average temperature, excluding the southern Jeju Island, in the first seven days of July was 28.1 C, the highest figure on record since relevant record-keeping began in 1973.