KMA: "50-100mm Hourly Heavy Rain in Seoul Metropolitan Area Until Morning"

200mm More Rain Today in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and Inland/Mountainous Gangwon
Narrow and Intense Rain Cloud Band Positioned over Central Regions
20~70mm Rainfall in Chungnam and Northern Inland Gyeongbuk
Heavy Rain Overnight, 278mm Recorded in Seosan

On the 29th, during the ongoing rainy season, the Cheonggyecheon walkway in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is closed to the public. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Heavy rain poured overnight in the central region, and the Seoul metropolitan area is expected to experience heavy rain of about 50 to 100mm per hour until the morning.

On the 30th, heavy rain warnings were issued for the Seoul metropolitan area, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, and parts of the Chungcheong region, with very heavy rain of about 30 to 50mm per hour falling in the metropolitan area. Until the morning, strong rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, reaching 50 to 100mm per hour, is expected mainly in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Yeongseo region of Gangwon Province, so caution is advised for rain-related damage.

Currently, heavy rain warnings are in effect for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, Chungbuk (Jeungpyeong, Eumseong, Jincheon, Chungju, Cheongju), Chungnam (Dangjin, Hongseong, Seosan, Taean, Yesan, Asan, Cheonan), and Gangwon Province (Pyeongchang plain, Hoengseong, Wonju, Yeongwol). Heavy rain advisories are in effect for Chungbuk (Jecheon, Danyang, Goesan) and Gangwon Province (northern mountainous areas, central mountainous areas, Yanggu plain, Jeongseon plain, Hongcheon plain, Inje plain, Chuncheon, Hwacheon, Cheorwon).

As the stationary front moves northward, narrow and intense rain cloud bands will cause concentrated rainfall in the Seoul metropolitan area and Yeongseo region of Gangwon Province on the 30th. In many places in the metropolitan area and inland/mountainous areas of Gangwon, rainfall will exceed 200mm; other metropolitan areas and Chungbuk will see 50 to 150mm; southern Chungcheong and northern inland Gyeongbuk 20 to 70mm; Gangwon East Coast, southern regions (excluding northern inland Gyeongbuk), and Jeju Island will receive about 5 to 40mm of rain.

The Korea Meteorological Administration advised, "Very heavy and substantial rain is expected until the 1st, so residents in areas prone to landslides should evacuate to safe locations in advance and pay attention to facility management and safety accidents. Due to rain falling upstream in valleys and rivers, sudden flooding may occur downstream, so refrain from camping. There is a high possibility of collapse of construction sites, slopes, retaining walls, and embankments, and caution is needed for electric shock accidents in flooded areas and vehicle engine stalls."

On the 29th, as the rainy season continues, citizens are walking with umbrellas near Cheonggyecheon in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Some areas received over 250mm of rain from the afternoon of the previous day until 6 a.m. Major rainfall amounts (mm) include ▲Seosan 278.7 ▲Dangjin 242.5 ▲Taean 165.5 ▲Asan 163.5 ▲Hyeondeok-myeon (Pyeongtaek) 174.5 ▲Osan 168.5 ▲Cheoin Yeoksam (Yongin) 162.0 ▲Hwaseong 148.0 ▲Jeungpyeong 119.5 ▲Jincheon 118.0 ▲Geumwang (Eumseong) 115.0 ▲Ochang Gagok (Cheongju) 107.4, among others.

Due to the heavy rain, traffic is being restricted in various locations. Seoul city has fully closed the entire Dongbu Expressway due to rising water levels in Jungnangcheon Stream. Thirty-four underground passages across Gyeonggi Province have also been closed to traffic. Crop flooding damage occurred in Incheon and Ganghwa, one house was flooded in Cheongyang, Chungnam, a school wall collapsed in Dongnae District, Busan, and soil runoff damage occurred in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

On the 30th, the entire country will be mostly cloudy, with daytime high temperatures expected to range from 25 to 34 degrees Celsius. Heatwave warnings are in effect for the Gyeongbuk region and Jeju Island, with apparent temperatures exceeding 33 degrees Celsius and some areas in Gyeongbuk rising above 35 degrees Celsius, making it very hot. As the stationary front moves northward, heatwave warnings are expected to expand to southern regions. In the East Sea central offshore waters, winds will blow very strongly at 10 to 16 meters per second until the morning, and waves will be very high at 2 to 4 meters.