Earlier this week,... the year's earliest heat wave warning was issued for the southwestern city of Gwangju.... after temperatures there topped 33 degrees Celsius for two days in a row.<br />The mercury in Seoul is also hovering around 30 degrees.... and it's only mid-May.<br />What does this mean for the coming months?<br />Can we expect another blistering summer like last year?<br />Lee Seung-jae reports. <br />June is still a couple of weeks away,... but already,... strong sunlight beats down on the streets,... with heat shimmer rising from the ground. <br />T-shirts, shorts and sunglasses, along with ice-cold drinks and a handheld fan have once again become necessities for people in South Korea.<br />With the heat arriving so early, many are concerned about how hot the upcoming summer will be this year.<br />"As soon as I get off the bus, it's very hot. It's impossible to walk around without a fan. Last year was hot, but this time I'm very worried."<br />While Gwangju already saw its first heat wave warning earlier this week,... the entire nation saw temperatures we'd normally expect in July to August.<br />At the peak of the afternoon,... road surface temperatures even soared to 50 degrees Celsius in some regions.<br />"I came from Daegu on a school trip, but Seoul is hotter than I expected. I wore cool clothes but I think it's very hot."<br />So what's causing this mini heat wave?<br />"The early heat is caused by a combination of strong sunlight, clear skies,... and the formation of hot air in China. Westerly winds have brought the heat to South Korea."<br />While the heat will ease off a touch on Sunday,... watchers say higher temperatures are expected in South Korea in June,... with this summer potentially set to be one of the hottest in recent memory.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News. <br />
