South Korea Records 42.5°C, Breaking a 122-Year Temperature Record

Yangsan, South Korea hit 42.5°C on August 2, 2026 — the highest reading since modern records began in 1904, per the Korea Meteorological Administration. It marked the city's fifth straight day above 40°C. El Niño's 2026 return is amplifying Pacific warming on top of longer-term climate trends, layering a cyclical event over an already shifting baseline.