[Today's Weather] Rain Returns from Afternoon... 'Up to 50mm per Hour Heavy Rain' Possible

On the 11th, when rain fell across the country, citizens were walking with umbrellas at Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On August 15, Liberation Day, after scattered showers poured in the central region since the previous evening, rain is expected to fall again on the same day.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecasted that until noon to 3 PM on the 15th, there will be showers accompanied by gusts, thunder, and lightning in the metropolitan area and inland/mountain areas of Gangwon Province. From 3 PM to 6 PM, rain caused by a stationary front will begin in Gangwon and Chungcheong regions. This rain will expand to Jeonbuk and northern Gyeongbuk by night.

From the early morning of the 16th, the rain area will widen to cover the entire southern region and Jeju Island. Rain in the metropolitan area and Gangwon Yeongseo is expected to stop after early morning on the 16th. Rain will continue until morning in Gangwon Yeongdong, Chungcheong, and northern Gyeongbuk, and until afternoon in Jeonbuk and Gyeongbuk.

However, Gyeongbuk is expected to experience another round of rain between morning and afternoon on the 17th. Rain will fall in Jeonnam and Gyeongnam until noon on the 17th, and Jeju will see rain throughout the day. In Gangwon Yeongdong, rain will pour from the afternoon of the 16th to the afternoon of the 17th due to the combined effects of the stationary front and easterly winds.

The cloud band accompanying the stationary front causing this rain will be long east-west but narrow north-south, similar to the heavy rain last week. Therefore, areas where the rain cloud band moves in may experience rain with gusts, thunder, and lightning, with hourly rainfall exceeding 50 mm.

On the rainy 11th, citizens hurried on their way to work at Gwanghwamun Intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

From late afternoon on the 15th through the 16th, precipitation is expected to be 30 to 100 mm nationwide except for Gangwon Yeongdong and the Gyeongsang East Coast. Expected rainfall amounts for the Gyeongsang East Coast and Gangwon Yeongdong are 10 to 60 mm and 5 to 40 mm, respectively. Jeju will receive 5 to 20 mm of rain on the 16th. Some areas in eastern Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeonbuk, and western Gyeongbuk may record rainfall exceeding 150 mm.

The KMA advised, "The intensity and concentration of rain may change depending on how much hot and humid air comes from the south and the extent of cold air moving southward from the northwest, so please check the latest weather information."

During the past night, hot and humid southwesterly winds continuously entered Korea, causing tropical nights nationwide including Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. In Incheon Ganghwa-gun (lowest temperature of 26.8°C on the 15th) and Chungnam Seosan-si (27°C), the lowest temperatures on the 15th set record highs for August daytime minimum temperatures.

Some parts of the central region under heatwave warnings, as well as the southern region and Jeju, will feel hot with apparent temperatures around 33 to 35°C on the 15th. The daytime high temperature is expected to range from 28 to 35°C. In areas where showers or rain from the stationary front occur, temperatures will drop, possibly leading to the lifting of heatwave warnings.

From the 15th to the morning of the 16th, strong winds with instantaneous speeds of 70 km/h (90 km/h in mountainous areas) will blow along the western coast of Gyeonggi, Gangwon mountains, and northeastern Gyeongbuk mountains. Other areas may also experience instantaneous wind speeds exceeding 55 km/h, so precautions are necessary.

Until the 16th, the moon’s gravitational pull will strengthen, causing higher sea levels. On the west coast, south coast, and Jeju coast, sea levels will rise further during high tide, leading to storm surge warnings. Coastal low-lying areas should prepare for flooding.