This July recorded the highest number of tropical nights for any July on record. A tropical night refers to a phenomenon in which the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius overnight.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's July climate characteristics released on the 5th, the nationwide number of tropical nights last month was 9.7 days. It surpassed the previous No. 1, 2024 (8.8 days), and was 3.5 times higher than the average year (2.8 days). By region, Yeosu, South Jeolla, had 22 tropical nights in July, and Jeonju, North Jeolla, and Wando, South Jeolla, each had 18 days. An official at the Korea Meteorological Administration said, "Warm and humid air flowed in along southwesterly winds," adding, "Temperatures that rose during the day did not drop, so tropical nights were frequent nationwide."
The average temperature this July was 26.8 degrees Celsius. It was the third highest on record after 1994 (27.7 degrees) and 2025 (27.1 degrees). As the hot and humid North Pacific high expanded to the southeast of Korea in late July, the Gyeongnam region broke previous records by renewing the daily maximum temperature for four consecutive days from the 28th to the 31st.
Nationwide precipitation last month was 220 millimeters, about 30% lower than the average year. In particular, precipitation in South Gyeongsang was 68 millimeters, the lowest on record. This was due to the prevailing influence of the North Pacific high, which kept mostly clear weather in place.
Meanwhile, the average sea surface temperature in waters around Korea last month was 24.3 degrees Celsius. The West Sea was 23.4 degrees, the South Sea 25.7 degrees, and the East Sea 23.7 degrees, marking the 4th, 3rd, and 5th highest temperatures, respectively, in the past 10 years.