South Korea had unusually warm autumn weather this year, as the average November temperature hit the highest level on record, due mainly to warmer sea currents approaching the coastlines, the weather agency said Tuesday.

The average temperature for November reached 11 C, the highest figure since the agency began compiling data in 1973, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

The November weather was also milder than a year earlier, when the average temperature was 7.1 C. The average temperature in November for the past 30 years was 7.6 C, the KMA said.

This autumn season, spanning the three months through November, had an average temperature of 15.3 C, the third-warmest level on record, the KMA also noted.

South Korea also experienced exceptionally heavy rainfalls last month, with the monthly volume reaching 102.8 millimeters, the third-highest amount on record, the agency said.

“The average daily high temperature in November was higher than those in previous years by as much as 9 degrees,” a weather official said. “This was because higher temperatures in the Northwest Pacific including the East Sea pushed warm air into the country.” 

(Yonhap News)