Heavy rain, harsh winds to lash country through Thursday

Heavy rain and harsh winds are set to lash much of the country through Thursday, with some areas expected to see more than 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) of rainfall.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, the greater Seoul area and Gangwon had received around 5 millimeters of rain per hour, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The Chungcheong region, the southern parts of the country and Jeju Island recorded an hourly precipitation of 5 to 10 millimeters.

“Rain will continue across most parts of the country on Wednesday,” the state weather agency said. “It is expected to taper off Thursday afternoon in the greater Seoul area and inland Gangwon, and by Thursday night in most other regions.”

The nationwide rainfall is being driven by the collision of warm, moisture-laden air from the south and cold, dry air from the north, creating a powerful band of rain clouds.

Different air masses are clashing over the Yellow Sea, fueling the development of a low-pressure system,” said KMA forecaster Gong Sang-min. “As the system moves eastward, rain will spread nationwide.”

The heaviest downpours are expected from late Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday morning.

Incheon and the western regions of Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong could see torrential rain of 20 to 30 millimeters per hour. Other regions, including Seoul, are also forecast to receive heavy rain of around 20 millimeters an hour.

Jeju Island and the country’s southern coast could be hit with torrential downpours in a short span of time as a surge of moisture pushes in from the south. The intense rain shower can cause flooding and other damage.

By Thursday, cumulative rainfall is expected to reach 30 to 80 millimeters in Seoul, while that in Incheon and the coastal parts of Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong could exceed 100 millimeters.

Jeju Island and mountainous areas in Gangwon could receive more than 120 millimeters and 150 millimeters of rain, respectively.

Strong winds are also expected nationwide alongside the rain, with gusts reaching around 15 meters per second (33 miles per hour). On Jeju Island, winds could intensify to more than 25 meters per second beginning Wednesday night, potentially prompting a strong wind advisory.

The KMA issues the advisory when sustained winds are expected to reach 14 meters per second.

“People should exercise extra caution as strong winds could bring down signs and tree branches, and even cause trees to snap or topple,” the KMA said. “Flight operations may also be disrupted, so travelers are advised to check flight information in advance.”

The rain has also brought temporary relief from the unseasonably early heat in mid-May.

Daytime temperatures in Seoul are expected to remain around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) through Thursday.

However, temperatures are expected to climb again starting Friday once rain clouds retreat. Seoul could see daytime highs reaching 29 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with some areas nearing 30 degrees Celsius.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY CHON KWON-PIL [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]