An easterly wind shift beginning Aug. 3 [1] is expected to move a severe heatwave toward the Seoul metropolitan area.
This shift is critical because it relocates extreme temperatures from the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula to the densely populated capital region. The timing coincides with the movement of Typhoon Dolphin, which threatens to exacerbate the heat by trapping dry air over the region.
According to YTN reporter Jang Ah-young, the wind direction is changing from westerly to easterly starting Monday [3]. This atmospheric transition is expected to push the current heatwave's momentum from the east toward the west of the peninsula [1].
Jang said extreme heat could surge into the metropolitan area depending on the specific path of the northward-moving Typhoon Dolphin [3]. The potential for extreme temperatures follows a period of intense heat in other regions; for example, Yangsan recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 40 °C [1] during the preceding five days.
While the capital region has previously seen forecast temperatures around 34 °C [2], the current wind shift and the influence of the typhoon are expected to drive those numbers higher. Local authorities are monitoring the interaction between the easterly flow and the storm's trajectory to determine the peak intensity of the coming heatwave.
Residents in the Seoul metropolitan area are advised to prepare for a sudden increase in temperature as the weather pattern shifts. The combination of a redirected heatwave and a tropical cyclone often creates a "heat dome" effect, where hot air is compressed, and held in place over a specific geographic area.
“The wind is shifting from a westerly to an easterly flow.”
The convergence of a wind shift and a northward-moving typhoon creates a high-risk meteorological scenario for Seoul. When an easterly wind pushes heat toward the west while a storm system blocks its escape, it can lead to stagnant, extreme temperatures that increase the risk of heat-related illnesses in urban heat islands.
