Marek Kučera 
East Asia is in the throes of an unrelenting and deadly heatwave, already being called the most extreme in the region’s modern history. Over the past two weeks, more than 500 temperature records have been broken, with Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and parts of eastern Russia experiencing sustained and intensifying heat.
Japan: Hundreds of Records Broken — and It’s Only the Beginning
On July 2nd 2025, dozens of new records were set in Japan alone, including:
- Kekuto: 37.6°C
- Ebino: 36.9°C
- Kuraoka: 35.0°C
These temperatures are not isolated — much of Japan is seeing daily highs above 35–38°C, with heat indices exceeding 50°C in humid coastal and urban regions. This is the most intense early July heat event in Japanese history, and climatologists warn it could last for three months or longer, with thousands of temperature records likely to fall by the end of summer.
Major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya are experiencing back-to-back tropical nights and dangerously high dew points, reducing the body’s ability to cool down and significantly raising the risk of heatstroke and mortality, particularly among the elderly and outdoor workers.
Korean Peninsula: Tropical Nights and Deadly Heat Continue
South Korea are also under extreme heat stress:
- Ulchin (South Korea): 37.8°C — ties all-time record
- Kangeung: 30.4°C minimum — hottest night in South Korean history
Humidity remains dangerously high, with dew points above 27–29°C, pushing the apparent temperature well into the 50s°C.
Russian Far East: Record High Minimums
Even typically cooler regions in the Russian Far East are being scorched:
- Bikin: 22.3°C minimum
- Agzu: 18.8°C minimum
These nighttime temperatures are extraordinarily warm for high-latitude areas, indicating persistent, tropical-style heat patterns that are highly unusual for Siberia.
The Most Extreme Heatwave in East Asian History
This heatwave is breaking records not only in intensity but in scale and persistence:
- Over 500 records broken in just two weeks
- Millions exposed to extreme heat stress
- Power grids strained, especially in cities across Japan and South Korea
- Medical emergencies surging, with heatstroke hospitalizations on the rise
- Crop damage already reported, especially in rice-producing areas where heat is affecting flowering and water use
Long-Term Outlook: Worse to Come
Meteorological models suggest this heatwave is just getting started. Forecasts indicate:
- Sustained record-breaking heat through August and even into September
- Thousands of additional records likely to fall
- Urban centers at risk of severe infrastructure strain and public health crises
- Historic summer shaping up for East Asia, with widespread environmental and economic impacts
Source: JMA
