Gwangju and Jeonnam Recorded Hottest Temperatures in 50 Years Last Year

Tropical Nights Lasted 37.8 Days... Longest on Record
Annual Average Temperature 15.9°C, 2°C Higher Than Usual
Gwangju Meteorological Administration, '2024 Annual Climate Analysis Results'

Last year, the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions experienced the hottest summer on record.

According to the "2024 Annual Climate Analysis Results" released by the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration on the 9th, the annual average temperature in Gwangju and Jeonnam last year was 15.9 degrees Celsius, which is 2 degrees higher than the normal average (13.9 degrees Celsius).

This was 0.9 degrees Celsius higher than the previous record set in 2023 (15 degrees Celsius), breaking the highest record since 1973.

The monthly average temperatures were also higher than normal across the board. In February, April, June, August, September, and October of last year, the regions recorded the highest temperatures ever for those months.

Unusually persistent heat led to a temperature deviation of 4.4 degrees Celsius above normal in September, the largest deviation on record. In addition, tropical nights continued into September, with the annual number of tropical nights reaching a record high of 37.8 days, about 3.3 times higher than the normal average (11.4 days).

The Gwangju Meteorological Administration analyzed that major climatological factors contributing to the rise in temperatures in Korea last year included high sea surface temperatures, the Tibetan High, and the North Pacific High.

Sea surface temperatures in the Northwest Pacific, including the waters around Korea, remained above normal throughout the year, increasing the temperature of air flowing into Korea over the sea. Furthermore, the North Pacific High intensified over the warm seas surrounding Korea during the summer, further raising temperatures.

Last year, the summer weather in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions was recorded as the hottest ever. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Last year's annual precipitation was 1,497.5mm, similar to the normal average, but for the first time since 1973, precipitation in February exceeded that of August.

February, typically a dry month, recorded 128.8mm of precipitation, the highest ever compared to the normal average (43.7mm), while August, usually a wet month, recorded only 75.2mm, just 28.2% of the normal (267mm), making it the second lowest on record.

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