Chilly weekend expected as autumn rain cools Korea

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Chilly weekend expected as autumn rain cools Korea

Published: 17 Oct. 2024, 16:56 Updated: 17 Oct. 2024, 17:43

People walk along the Haneul Park in Mapo District, western Seoul, enjoying the clear autumn skies on Thursday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Thursday, rain is expected in Seoul on Friday. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Cooler autumn weather is finally expected this weekend as rainfall is forecast nationwide.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Thursday, a low-pressure system will bring rain as it passes through the Korean Peninsula.

The rain is expected to start in Jeju on Thursday night and expand nationwide on Friday. The rain will likely persist after the low pressure passes through on Saturday morning.

Rainfall will continue along regions on the east coast until Saturday night, including eastern Gangwon. Western parts of Gangwon will experience rain until Saturday morning, while North Chungcheong and the Gyeongsang region will see rain until the afternoon of the same day.

The precipitation is expected to be unconventionally heavy for autumn rain.

People walk in rain under their umbrellas in Gwangju on July 18. [YONHAP]

The expected rainfall from Friday to Saturday is 50 to 120 millimeters (1.97 inches to 4.72 inches) for Gangwon's east coast and mountainous areas and 20 to 80 millimeters for the Seoul metropolitan area, the five islands in the Yellow Sea, inland Gangwon and Chungcheong.

Rainfall will be 30 to 100 millimeters for Busan, Ulsan, the south coast of South Gyeongsang, northern North Gyeongsang, Ulleung Island and Dokdo islets, 10 to 80 millimeters for the Jeolla region and Jeju Island and 10 to 50 millimeters for Daegu, southern North Gyeongsang and inland South Gyeongsang.

The expectant rain is sparking concern about potential damages.

In particular, the Earth and Moon are currently at their closest point of the year, meaning the Moon’s gravitational pull strongly affects the tides, raising sea levels. With low pressure passing through and rain falling, coastal lowlands could face flooding.

A child visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno District, central Seoul, avoids rain with flipped umbrella on July 22. [NEWS1]

People with umbrellas cross a crosswalk near Gwanghwamun in Jongno District, central Seoul, as a heavy rain advisory was issued for the city on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Low pressure increases the height of seawater, and if heavy rain coincides with high tides, drainage might be overwhelmed, potentially worsening the situation.

After the rain, temperatures could drop in mountainous areas of Gangwon, leading to ice formation on roads. Light snowfall might even occur at higher elevations.

The recent clear skies have led to above-average temperatures, but after the rain, the low-pressure system will pass, and a high-pressure system from the north of Korea will expand, bringing in strong, cold, northerly winds. This will cause temperatures to drop to around or slightly below average.

Daytime temperatures will drop by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit) between Friday and Saturday and 3 to 10 degrees from Friday to Sunday.

On Friday morning, the lowest temperatures are expected to range between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius, with highs between 19 and 26 degrees. On Saturday, the morning low and daytime high are expected to be 13 to 21 degrees and 15 to 25 degrees, respectively.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]