June Daily Rainfall Records Broken in Southern Regions... Caution as Stationary Front Moves North

On June 21, heavy rainfall centered on the southern regions led to new records for the highest amount of rain in a single day in June being set across various parts of the country.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on June 22, new records for the highest daily precipitation in June were set the previous day in Sejong, Jeongeup, Namwon, Gochang County, Sunchang County in North Jeolla Province, Yeonggwang County in South Jeolla Province, and Seocheongju in North Chungcheong Province. In Jeongeup, 136.3 mm of rain was recorded, marking the highest daily rainfall in June since observations began in January 1970. The previous record was 135.5 mm, set on June 24, 1986.

Citizens holding umbrellas are waiting for the signal at the Gwanghwamun intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

In Namwon, 174.9 mm of rain fell, breaking the previous record of 127.9 mm set on June 20, 1990, and marking the highest amount since observations began in January 1972. Gochang, where observations began in December 2010, and Yeonggwang County, where observations began in November 2007, recorded 122.2 mm and 119.9 mm respectively, both setting new records for the highest daily precipitation in June. On June 20, Dongducheon in Gyeonggi Province experienced 50.8 mm of rain in just one hour, the highest hourly rainfall in June since observations began in 1998.

Over the four days since June 19, due to the influence of a stationary front, 100 to 150 mm of rain, and in some places up to around 190 mm, fell mainly in the southern regions but also in other parts of the country. From 9 p.m. on June 19 to 5 a.m. on June 22, cumulative precipitation at major locations included 194 mm in Cheongyang, South Chungcheong Province; 187.5 mm in Jinan, South Jeolla Province; 184.5 mm in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province; 177.3 mm in Namwon, South Jeolla Province; 176.5 mm in Geumgok, Incheon; 168 mm in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province; and 52.1 mm in Seoul.

The rain that continued for several days mostly stopped as the stationary front moved south to the South Sea, and all heavy rain warnings have now been lifted. On this holiday, daytime temperatures are ranging from 26 to 32 degrees Celsius, higher than the previous day. However, as the stationary front is expected to move north again this week, rain is forecast to fall mainly in the southern regions at the beginning of the week and across the country again over the weekend.