South Korea experienced its second hottest year on record in 2024, with an average temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius. This temperature was 0.8 degrees Celsius lower than the previous year but tied with 2023 as the second hottest year since 1973.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that last year’s average temperature was 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than the annual average from 1991 to 2020. Except for February and May, all other months in 2024 had temperatures above the long-term average.
The KMA attributed the prolonged heat to the North Pacific High, which was stronger and more persistent than usual. This weather system, coupled with hot and humid air, led to high temperatures across the country.
Last year saw a significant increase in the number of days with temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius, with 29.7 such days compared to the long-term average of 11 days. Additionally, there were 16.4 tropical nights, surpassing the average of 6.6 nights.
Daegwallyeong in Gangwon province recorded a temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius on July 26, the first heat wave at this location since 1971. The sea surface temperature around South Korea averaged 17.7 degrees Celsius, the second-highest in the past decade.
The country received 1,325.6 millimeters of rainfall in 2024, similar to the long-term average of 1,331.7 mm.
