Summer weather with a high of 30 degrees during the weekend… If it rains next week, the heat will likely be alleviated.

Summer-like heat is expected to arrive across the country this weekend, with clear skies and daytime highs exceeding 30 degrees.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 26th, the highest daytime temperature in Seoul on the 27th is expected to rise to 27 degrees, with temperatures nationwide rising to 21 to 30 degrees. The 28th will be even hotter, with the highest daytime temperature expected to rise to 18 to 31 degrees, including 29 degrees in Daejeon, Seoul and 31 degrees in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. This is more than 8 to 9 degrees higher than normal.

An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration said, “The Korean Peninsula has been in a high-pressure area all weekend, with strong sunlight shining down on it, and the dry air in the upper atmosphere of the Korean Peninsula sinks downward, holding in warm air, causing the temperature to rise,” adding, “On the 27th, the temperature will rise, mainly in the Yeongnam region.” “On the 28th, the highest temperature will be close to 30 degrees in most parts of the country.” However, on the 28th, temperatures in Yeongdong, Gangwon and the east coast of Gyeongbuk are expected to be around 20 degrees as a somewhat cool east wind flows in.

The reason why temperatures are higher than normal this April is because hot air from the high-temperature ocean flowed into the Korean Peninsula when the sun was shining strongly. The air quality on the weekend is not bad, and it appears that mostly clear skies can be seen across the country. However, fine dust accumulates due to atmospheric stagnation, and on the morning of the 28th, the fine dust concentration in the central and western regions such as Incheon, southern Gyeonggi, and South Chungcheong may temporarily become ‘bad’ (81 to 150 μg per ㎥).

The heat is expected to subside on the 29th with rain falling in the central and southern regions. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that rain would fall due to the influence of low pressure rising from Jeju on the 29th and that the highest daytime temperature in Seoul would be 23 degrees. Afterwards, the temperature is expected to gradually drop and return to normal around the 1st of next month.

Reporter Kim Ye-yoon [email protected]