Yellow Dust Observed in Seoul and Hongseong, Chungnam
Nationwide Rain or Snow Expected on the 14th
Strong rain and wind are sweeping across the country as yellow dust begins to flow in.
The yellow dust, originating northwest of the Bohai Sea on the 12th, reached the west coast on the morning of the 12th and is currently being observed in Seoul and Hongseong, Chungnam, as of 10 a.m. on the 13th.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Research, the hourly average concentration of fine dust (PM10) by city and province as of 10 a.m. shows levels of 128㎍/㎥ in Seoul, 141㎍/㎥ in Incheon, 129㎍/㎥ in Gyeonggi, 107㎍/㎥ in Chungnam, 81㎍/㎥ in Jeonbuk, and 96㎍/㎥ in Jeju, reaching a 'bad' level mainly in the western regions.
At the Siwha Industrial Complex measuring station in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, the hourly average concentration of fine dust soared to 223㎍/㎥ at 10 a.m. This far exceeds the 'very bad' fine dust standard of 151㎍/㎥.
The entire country is expected to be covered by yellow dust today. Additional yellow dust is originating from southern Mongolia, northern China, and the Huangtu Plateau, and the effects of the yellow dust are expected to continue until the 14th.
Meanwhile, strong rain and wind continue mainly in the central regions. As of 10:30 a.m., sporadic rain of less than 5mm per hour and around 1mm is falling in the metropolitan area and inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province. Snow is also falling in areas with low temperatures.
In Seoul and Goyang, Yangju, Dongducheon, and Siheung in Gyeonggi Province, graupel smaller than 5mm in diameter fell due to atmospheric instability. From noon the previous day to 10 a.m. today, cumulative rainfall includes over 100mm in areas such as 129.0mm at Jindallaebat on Hallasan Mountain in Jeju. Other rainfall amounts include 54.9mm in Changwon, Gyeongnam; 48.5mm in Wando, Jeonnam; 35.0mm and 33.5mm in Ulsan and Busan respectively; 25.0mm in Mokpo, Jeonnam; 18.5mm in Seoul; and 17.3mm in Daejeon.
Rain or snow is also expected nationwide on the 14th. Regional precipitation is forecasted as 5?20mm in eastern Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous Gangwon, Chungbuk, Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Yeongnam; 5?10mm in Seoul, Incheon, western Gyeonggi, eastern Gangwon coast, Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeju; and around 5mm in the five western islands, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo.
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