South Korea Records Highest Temperature in Over a Century

South Korea recorded its highest temperature since climate data began to be documented over a hundred years ago, according to the South Korea Meteorological Administration. The agency stated that the temperature in Yangsan, a city in the southeast of the country, reached 42.5 degrees Celsius.

Most of South Korea's territory has been placed under extreme heat warnings, with several cities recording temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius. Yangsan has become the epicenter of the heatwave currently sweeping the country, as temperatures there have crossed the 40-degree threshold for the fifth consecutive day.

Data from the South Korea Meteorological Administration shows that the annual average of heatwave days in the country has risen to 19 days in the last five years, compared to only eight days in the 1970s. A heatwave day is defined as a day when the maximum temperature reaches 33 degrees Celsius or more, while a "tropical night" is defined as a night when the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius.

Although these are "normal" temperatures for an Israeli citizen, it is important to note that South Korea is considered an especially cold country. The Korean Peninsula, located not far from Siberia in Russia, records temperatures in the winter months ranging between -2 and -10 degrees.