Weather forecasters say the sweltering heat is expected to continue for the next few days before slightly edging down to average levels after Tuesday, which marks the last of the three "dog days of summer."

Forecasters say after Tuesday, the entire nation will be free from temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius as seen in recent days.

Starting from later next week, temperatures are forecast to return to seasonal norms with afternoon highs ranging between 26 and 31 degrees.

As for this weekend, temperatures on Saturday were expected to reach 38 degrees in Daegu, 36 in Gwangju and Daejeon and 34 in the capital Seoul. On Sunday, partly cloudy weather is forecast across the country with bouts of showers in some areas of the central region, which are expected to help curb the scorching heat.