Heat wave grips nation

By Park Sae-jin Posted : August 9, 2013, 16:47 Updated : August 9, 2013, 16:46
A heat wave has gripped most of the country for the past week, prompting the authorities to issue a warning for possible power shortage on Friday.

As of 1 p.m. Friday, the mercury stayed above 36 degrees Celsius in Daegu and reached 37 degrees Celsius in Ulsan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The meteorological office issued heat alerts for most of the nation with highs hovering around 35 degrees Celsius.

On Thursday, the mercury in Ulsan reached a 30-year high of 38.8 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in the country since the KMA began keeping records.

In Seoul, the lowest temperature Thursday night was 27.7 degrees Celsius, the KMA said. Seoul has been gripped by a "tropical night" since Aug. 1. During a tropical night, the temperatures remain at 25 degrees Celsius or above.

Friday's warning for possible power shortage was the second of its kind issued this summer.

The hot spell causes a surge in consumption of electricity, which is expected to promote the Korea Power Exchange, the state-run electricity distributor, to repeatedly issue a power shortage alert.

Air conditioners are one of the main culprits behind the surge in electricity consumption, officials said, asking people to turn up the thermostat of the air conditioner by a degree, a "small step" to help ensure no disruptions in power supply.
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