



By Jung Da-min, Jung Min-ho







The blistering heat wave currently blanketing the country is expected to continue into next week, the weather agency said Thursday.







The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA), which has issued heat warnings in many regions, forecast that hot air from Tibet will bring more days of sunshine and high temperatures.







This year's heat wave came sooner than usual, following the early end of the rainy season, the KMA said.







"The hot air coming from Tibet has remained static having a balancing effect while strengthening the influence of a North Pacific anticyclone on the Korean Peninsula," KMA spokesman Youn Ki-han said. The melting of snow in Tibet also contributed to raising the temperature.







"Tibet had little snow last winter. Because of that, the ground (and air) has warmed faster this year."







Seoul's maximum daily temperature this week has been about 4 degrees Celsius higher than average. Temperatures are expected to peak in the capital on Sunday.







On Thursday, temperatures surpassed 35 degrees in Daegu, Pohang and Andong, North Gyeongsang Province; 33 degrees in Gwangju; 34 degrees in Gangneung, Gangwon Province; and 31 degrees in Busan.







The KMA issues heat wave warnings when the temperature is expected to be above 33 degrees for two consecutive days.

