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Weather & Climate in Gwangju, South Korea
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gwangju experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 244 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 51.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 2.8 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 157 feet.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-4°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 51.5°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 24°F (-4°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 244 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Area | 166.4 sq mi (431.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 492/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.4100°N, 127.2572°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Seoul |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
5 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Dec 13, 1996 | 20 km W of T’aebaek, South Korea | M4.8 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Jan 20, 2007 | 25 km NNE of Pyeongchang, South Korea | M4.7 | 109 km | 10 km |
| May 11, 2020 | 32 km E of Koksan, North Korea | M3.8 | 150 km | 10 km |
| Jan 8, 2023 | South Korea | M3.6 | 99 km | 17 km |
| Jan 29, 2020 | 21 km WNW of Mungyeong, South Korea | M3.5 | 104 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
10 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2020 | Bavi | Category 2 | 92 mph | 222 km |
| 2020 | Maysak | Category 1 | 86 mph | 184 km |
| 2020 | Haishen | Category 1 | 81 mph | 169 km |
| 2019 | Lingling | Category 1 | 75 mph | 189 km |
| 2012 | Sanba | Category 1 | 81 mph | 270 km |
| 2010 | Kompasu | Category 2 | 69 mph | 77 km |
| 2003 | Maemi | Category 2 | 86 mph | 229 km |
| 2000 | Prapiroon | Category 1 | 81 mph | 191 km |
| 1999 | Olga | Category 1 | 63 mph | 270 km |
| 1995 | Faye | Category 2 | 69 mph | 145 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1700 | YELLOW SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 122 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Ch'uga-ryong (103 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Ch'uga-ryong | Shield | 452 m (1,483 ft) | Unknown | 103 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F (-4°C) | 0.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.0 in | |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 1.9 in | |
| April | 52°F (11°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 61°F (16°C) | 3.8 in | |
| June | 69°F (21°C) | 5.4 in | |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 13.6 in | Wettest |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 11.2 in | Warmest |
| September | 67°F (19°C) | 5.9 in | |
| October | 55°F (13°C) | 1.9 in | |
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 1.9 in | |
| December | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 in |
Gwangju has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 24°F in January to 76°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 51.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (13.6") and January the driest (0.8").