Turning to the intense heat wave gripping Korea.
We are only halfway through July,... but it's already hot and sticking with the last several days seeing the temperatures well in excess of 30 degrees Celsius,... and the nights are not that much cooler.
It has some experts asking -- especially with the rest of July and the whole of August still ahead of us -- whether this could be the hottest summer ever in Korea.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
37-point-4 degrees Celsius in Gimnyeong-ri on Korea's southern Jeju Island.
36-point-6 degrees in the southeastern city of Daegu.
Weather experts believe this summer may end up being the hottest on record with consecutive days with scorching highs and tropical nights,... which make it hard to get a good night's rest.
Gangneung,... ironically one of the venues for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics,... is currently experiencing a record number of back-to-back tropical nights.
The eastern coastal city saw a nighttime high of 28-point-8 degrees earlier this week,... and it was only moderately cooler on Tuesday night at 28 degrees.
To be recognized as a tropical night,... the temperature must hit at least 25 degrees during the night.
But in the case of a super tropical night,... the temperature must pass 30 degrees Celsius.
The only time a super tropical night was recorded in Korea,... was on August 8th 2013 when Gangneung recorded 30-point-9 degrees.
And with much of the summer still ahead of us,... many predict that this could be the hottest on record.
So what's causing the sweltering summer?
Experts say the Tibetan anticyclone and the North Pacific anticyclone is bringing in dry heat from China,... and humidity from the North Pacific,... while a heat dome has been formed over the Korean Peninsula,... causing the heat to be trapped.
As a result,... the number of heat-related casualties has been rising in Korea.
Over 400 people have been hospitalized since May 20th due to heat-related conditions.
The intense heat wave has also claimed the lives of two people.
Many schools in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province have even shortened their school hours so students aren't required to be in class when the mercury is at its peak.
Everyone is advised to drink plenty of fluids,... while the elderly are advised to stay indoors, especially during the mid-afternoon.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
