Monsoon rains to soak Jeju while heat wave slow cooks Seoul

Social Affairs

Published: 26 Jun. 2024, 16:52

Monsoon rains to soak Jeju while heat wave slow cooks Seoul

People with umbrellas cross the street as monsoon rain pours at Jeju International Airport on Jeju Island on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Heavy rain is expected to drench Jeju Island and southern regions of the peninsula starting late Wednesday evening as a monsoon front nears the country.

The rain will be accompanied by high humidity on the peninsula.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), rain is likely to soak Jeju first before hitting southern coastal parts of South Jeolla late Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, southern parts of the country are likely to see rain downpours with a possibility of strong gusts, thunder and lightning.

Rain clouds along with the monsoon front are moving northward slowly from Jeju Island’s southern coast, the KMA said Wednesday.

Heavy monsoon rain of over 30 millimeters (1.18 inches) per hour is forecast to hit Jeju Island between the early morning of Thursday and noon the same day.

The coastal areas of South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang are expected to receive rainfall, with hourly precipitation of 10 to 20 millimeters between noon on Thursday and early Friday.

A screen captured image of a radar forecast provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration on Wednesday. It shows a monsoon front nears Jeju Island. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Although the rain is likely to stop by early Friday morning in most southern parts of the country, some areas in the Jeolla region and Jeju could receive rain until noon the same day.

Accumulated precipitation on Jeju Island is predicted to range between 50 and 100 millimeters from Wednesday to Friday.

Coastal regions in South Jeolla are likely to receive 20 to 60 millimeters of rainfall, and Gwangju, inland areas of South Jeolla and North Jeolla are forecast to see 10 to 40 millimeters of rainfall between the late evening of Wednesday and Friday morning.

The weather agency said Busan and southern coastal areas of South Gyeongsang may experience 20 to 60 millimeters of rain between Thursday and Friday. Ulsan and inland areas of South Gyeongsang are expected to see less than 30 millimeters of rainfall.

The weather forecaster said that Daegu and southern North Gyeongsang will receive the least rain, between five and 10 millimeters.

An official from the KMA warned of “possible flash flooding and torrential rain flows on roads, especially when using underground tunnels or walking near river banks.”

Children play in a water fountain at Han River Park in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

While southern parts of the country are expected to get soaked by rain, the greater Seoul areas and central regions will experience a heat wave, with daytime highs surpassing 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) from Thursday to Friday.

Since earlier this week, the central regions have been enjoying a brief respite from the summer heat mainly due to relatively cold air masses that originated from the northwest.

However, starting Thursday, temperatures will rise in the greater Seoul areas and central regions.

“Many parts of the central regions will see daytime highs rising above 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity,” said the KMA official, warning that apparent temperatures will rise above 31 degrees Celsius.

On Wednesday, Seoul’s daytime high was forecast to remain around 30 degrees Celsius.

However, the humid summer heat will likely make Seoulites sweat on Thursday and Friday, with expected midday highs of 32 and 33 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The monsoon front is expected to arrive in central regions over the weekend, with rain sweeping through the country from noon Saturday to next week.

BY CHUN KWON-PIL, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]