The state weather agency issued a heat wave warning for Seoul on Wednesday in response to predictions that the mercury will rise to a record high of 35 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

The warning, which is issued when temperatures are likely to stay above 35 C for two consecutive days, is the first issued for the capital city since the advisory system was introduced in 2008.

The temperature in Seoul was 34.8 C as of 2 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

As the highs in Seoul and its surrounding areas as well as the midwestern part of the country are expected to soar above 35 C, the KMA said it also issued warnings for most of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces.

The rest of the country also came under heat wave advisories, which are issued when the mercury goes over 33 C for at least two days, the KMA added.

"The jump in the temperatures in the western part of the country is because the air stream, moving westward, is getting hotter and drier as it goes over the Taebaek Mountains," a KMA official said, referring to the country's main ridge along the eastern coast of the peninsula.

"This much heat is expected to continue for some time," he added.

The ongoing scorching heat has left six people dead and sent hundreds to hospitals for heat-related illnesses so far during the season, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

"Outdoor activities are discouraged due to possible ill effects of hot weather and there is a need to drink lots of water to prevent overheating and dehydration," the KCDC official said.

The KCDC also said it mounted a campaign on Wednesday to check the health conditions of low-income senior citizens who are prone to weather changes and give them tips and tools to prevent possible damages.

(Yonhap News)



<관련 한글 기사>

서울에 첫 폭염경보

기상청은 서울에 발효중인 폭염주의보를 1일 오전 11시를 기해 폭염경보로 대치한다고 밝혔다.

서울에는 지난달 25일부터 폭염주의보가 내려져 있었다.

2008년 폭염특보제가 시행된 이래 서울에 폭염경보가 내려진 것은 처음이다.

폭염경보는 일 최고기온 35도 이상인 날이 이틀 이상 이어질 것으로 예상될 때 발효된다.

오전 11시30분 현재 서울의 기온은 33.6도다.

기상청은 이날 수도권을 비롯한 서쪽 지방의 기온이 35도 안팎까지 오를 것으로 예상됨에 따라 경기ㆍ충청ㆍ호남 지역 일부 시ㆍ군에도 폭염경보를 내렸다.

이날 예상 최고기온은 수원ㆍ전주ㆍ광주 36도, 서울ㆍ대전ㆍ청주 35도 등이다.

이렇게 서쪽 지방의 기온이 갑자기 뛰는 것은 고기압의 가장자리를 따라 유입되는 동풍이 태백산맥을 넘으면서 달궈진 채 불어오기 때문이다.

기상청은 "지형적인 효과로 서쪽 지방의 기온이 크게 오르고 있다"며 "이 정도의 무더위가 당분간 이어질 것으로 보인다"고 말했다.

(서울=연합뉴스)