'Cherry Blossom Viewing' Is Tomorrow the Last Day This Year?... Rain, Strong Winds, and Lightning Expected Over the Weekend

"Heavy Rain Expected Nationwide
Due to Northern Cold Low-Pressure System"

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom across the country, but you might want to enjoy the flowers before the weekend. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has forecasted heavy rain accompanied by strong winds throughout this weekend.

According to the KMA on the 10th, heavy rain with strong winds and lightning is expected nationwide this weekend (April 12-13). The rain will begin on the morning of Saturday the 12th in Jeju and is expected to spread nationwide by the afternoon of the same day, continuing until early morning on the 13th. In particular, strong winds with instantaneous speeds exceeding 70 km/h (90 km/h in mountainous areas) are expected across the country between the 12th and 13th.

On the 9th, cherry blossoms are blooming on Yeouido Yunjung-ro in Seoul, where the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival is being held. Photo by Yonhap News.

From the morning of the 13th until the 14th, rain will return mainly to the central regions. On the 13th, rain is expected in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Yeongseo, and on the 14th, rain will spread across the central regions, Honam, and Gyeongbuk. There is also a possibility of a heavy rain advisory being issued for the mountainous areas of Jeju.

Expected rainfall amounts over the weekend are ▲Jeju (excluding northern parts) 20-60 mm (up to 80 mm or more in Jeju mountainous areas), ▲South Coast of Jeonnam, Eastern Inland Jeonnam, Western South Coast of Gyeongnam, Southwestern Inland Gyeongnam 10-50 mm, ▲West Sea 5 Islands and Northern Jeju 10-40 mm, ▲Gwangju and Jeonnam (excluding South Coast and Eastern Inland), Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam (excluding Western South Coast and Southwestern Inland) 5-30 mm, ▲Seoul metropolitan area, Inland Gangwon, Gangwon mountainous areas, Chungcheong, Jeonbuk, Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Ulleungdo, Dokdo 5-20 mm, ▲Gangwon East Coast 5-10 mm.

Lee Chang-jae, a forecast analyst at the KMA, said during the regular briefing that "rain is expected nationwide due to the influence of a northern cold low-pressure system and a southern low-pressure system," adding, "especially heavy rain will fall centered on Jeju Island."

The cold low-pressure system is a cold low-pressure system moving southward, including Arctic cold air. This cold low-pressure system is expected to move southward carrying cold air around minus 35 degrees Celsius, which will cause temperatures to drop sharply this weekend when the Korean Peninsula comes under its influence. Additionally, unstable atmospheric conditions may bring hazardous weather such as strong winds, gusts, and lightning.

Some inland areas are expected to see "April snow." The KMA reported that snow accumulation is possible mainly in eastern Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, northern mountainous areas of Chungbuk, and northern mountainous areas of Gyeongbuk, with expected snowfall amounts around 5 cm.