Warmest November weather on record heats up peninsula

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Warmest November weather on record heats up peninsula

Published: 02 Nov. 2023, 19:12 Updated: 02 Nov. 2023, 19:36

CHO JUNG-WOO
cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr

People sit along the Cheonggyecheon, a stream that flows through downtown central Seoul, on Thursday as the country experiences unusually warm November weather, with midday temperatures as high as 25.9 degrees Celsius (78.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul. Thursday was the hottest day in November since 1907. [NEWS1]

Korea on Thursday experienced the warmest November weather on record, with the mercury hitting as high as 30 degrees Celsius in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang.

In Seoul, the highest temperature of the day was 25.9 degrees Celsius (78.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest daily temperature for November since records began in 1907, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

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Temperatures across the country were far above the average annual temperatures, which usually range from 14.6 degrees Celsius to 19.1 degrees Celsius, throughout the day.

In Gangwon, the lowest daily temperature was 21.6 degrees Celsius at 5 p.m. Thursday. The temperatures typically plunge to as low as 11.1 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in Gangneung hit as high as 29.1 degrees Celsius, according to the KMA.

The state agency said the mercury rose over 10 degrees Celsius compared to average years due to the sustained influx of warm southwesterly winds and surface warming across the country.

Daegu also saw hot November weather, with the mercury reaching as high as 29.4 degrees Celsius as of 5 p.m. Thursday. In the greater Seoul area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi, the temperature hit 26.9 degrees Celsius.

The air quality will be relatively clean over the weekend. However, fine dust concentrations in Incheon, southern regions of Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong are expected to be high due to air stagnation.

Midday temperatures in the country will remain higher than in previous years in the coming days, with the mercury hitting as high as 25 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Temperatures will cool down after heavy downpours batter the country over the weekend, according to the KMA.

The weather agency urged caution as heavy rains and strong gusts are expected in the regions affected by the rainfall.

The rain is forecast to fall in southern regions on Saturday and expand to the entire country the next day.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]