Heavy Rain Nationwide Through Saturday... Up to Over 200mm Expected

Heavy Rainfall Expected Nationwide on July 16 and 17
Localized Downpours to Continue Through July 19
Heatwave to Return Starting July 20

Heavy rain is expected across the country starting tomorrow afternoon.

Expected precipitation on the 16th and 17th. Provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration

At a briefing on July 15, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced that a low-pressure system approaching from the west on the 16th will bring hot and humid air to the southern part of Gyeonggi, southern Gangwon, and the Chungcheong region, resulting in heavy rainfall in these areas starting that afternoon.

From the afternoon of the 16th through the morning of the 17th, cold and dry air descending behind the low-pressure system will collide with hot and humid air flowing in along the edge of the North Pacific High, which will have expanded its influence as far as the southeastern part of Korea. This will cause continued heavy rainfall in southern Gyeonggi, southern Gangwon, and Chungcheong, and heavy rain is also expected in North Jeolla.

As dry air from the northwest and moist air from the southeast collide strongly, a band-shaped cloud formation will develop, long from southwest to northeast but narrow from north to south. In these regions, rainfall rates could reach 30 to 50 millimeters per hour.

Even after the afternoon of the 17th, the clash between the two different air masses is expected to persist, bringing continued rain nationwide. As large amounts of water vapor brought in along the edge of the North Pacific High are forcefully compressed by dry air coming from the northwest, heavy localized downpours will occur, particularly in Jeju and the southern regions where atmospheric instability will be pronounced.

Expected precipitation for July 16 and 17 is as follows: 50 to 150 millimeters in the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheong (with up to over 200 millimeters in southern Gyeonggi and the western coast of South Chungcheong), 50 to 100 millimeters in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon and North Chungcheong (with up to over 150 millimeters in the central and southern inland areas of Gangwon and North Chungcheong), and 30 to 100 millimeters in North Jeolla (with up to over 150 millimeters in the northwestern part).

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that the rain will continue through July 19. Starting on the 20th, the North Pacific High is expected to expand further, bringing another round of heatwaves.