"2024 Is the Hottest in History" Warning... Emergency for Summer Heavy Rain in Korea

El Nino Expected to Intensify from May to July
Significant Impact Including Heavy Rainfall in Korea

As seawater warms, the 'El Ni?o' phenomenon, which brings heavy rainfall, is expected to intensify starting from May. In the past, when El Ni?o developed, abnormal climate events such as rising average temperatures and heavy rains were observed in many countries around the world, including South Korea.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 1st, the sea surface temperature in the Pacific El Ni?o-La Ni?a monitoring area (latitude from 5°S to 5°N, longitude from 170°W to 210°W) has been rapidly rising since last month. Accordingly, El Ni?o is predicted to occur from May to July, about one month earlier than initially expected (June to August).

El Ni?o refers to a phenomenon where the sea surface temperature in the monitoring area remains at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above the average for five or more consecutive months, based on a three-month moving average. In other words, it is a phenomenon caused by rising sea temperatures.

A crosswalk in Gangbuk, Seoul, was submerged in water on August 8 last year due to heavy rain. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, El Ni?o in South Korea generally reaches its 'peak' in early winter (November to December), but it also has considerable effects during summer. From mid-July to mid-August, precipitation tends to increase mainly in the southern regions, and temperatures tend to decrease.

However, it is difficult to definitively say that summer temperatures in South Korea will be somewhat lower this year due to El Ni?o. On the 24th of last month, the Korea Meteorological Administration stated that the probability of May temperatures this year being higher than the average temperature (17 to 17.6 degrees Celsius) is 50%, similar is 40%, and lower is 10%.

More rainfall is expected. During the El Ni?o event in 2015, the average temperature in South Korea from November to December was more than 2 degrees Celsius higher than usual, and abnormal climate phenomena occurred with rain falling much more frequently and heavily than in previous years.

"The hottest year in history"...Global heatwaves

Horses pulling carriages are quenching their thirst in Seville, Spain.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

El Ni?o is expected to have a significant impact not only on South Korea but also on the global atmosphere. Abnormal climate phenomena have already been observed in Southern Europe.

On the 27th of last month (local time), the British 'BBC' reported that temperatures in Spain approached 40 degrees Celsius. Moreover, some Asian countries such as Thailand and Laos experienced heatwaves with temperatures ranging from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. In India, more than 12 people have reportedly died due to the heat.

The 'El Ni?o' phenomenon forecasted from May is also expected to further raise global temperatures. Dr. Josef Ludescher of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research warned, "After this El Ni?o, the Earth's temperature is expected to rise by 0.2 to 0.25 degrees Celsius," adding, "2024 will be the hottest year in history."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.