A fire truck sprays water into the parched Deokdong No. 1 Reservoir in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, on Aug. 13.YONHAP
Rain is expected nationwide during the Liberation Day holiday weekend as the remnants of Typhoon Dolphin arrive in Korea, potentially bringing relief to drought-stricken southern regions.
“Rain will fall nationwide on [Sunday and Monday] under the influence of a low-pressure system moving eastward from Shanghai,” Kang Hye-mi, a forecast analyst at the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), said at a regular briefing Thursday. “Hot weather with apparent temperatures of around 33 degrees Celsius [91 degrees Fahrenheit] is expected before and after the rain.”
The northeasterly winds that have recently brought cooler weather are expected to weaken, while hot and humid southerly winds will gradually move in. The resulting atmospheric instability is expected to bring showers to parts of the country through Saturday.
Temperatures and humidity are also expected to rise, bringing sweltering conditions. Seoul's apparent temperature is forecast to reach 34 degrees Celsius during the day Friday, while tropical nights could occur in the greater Seoul area on Saturday.
More widespread rain is expected to begin Sunday during the Liberation Day holiday weekend. Liberation Day falls on Saturday this year.
The remnants of Typhoon Dolphin, which weakened into a low-pressure system over southern China, are expected to approach Korea through the Yellow Sea. The system is expected to draw hot and humid air from the south, bringing rain first to western regions early Sunday. The rain is forecast to spread nationwide, including to Seoul, by Sunday night.
A map shows southerly moisture moving toward Korea ahead of nationwide rain expected on Aug. 16.KOREA METEOROLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION
Heavy rain is possible along the southern coast and around Mount Jiri as southerly winds continue to flow into the area. Depending on how much rain falls, it could also help alleviate the severe drought affecting southern regions.
“The rainfall could help ease the drought to some extent, but it is difficult to determine whether it will completely resolve the situation,” KMA spokesperson Woo Jin-kyu said.
The rain is expected to continue through Monday, the final day of the Liberation Day holiday weekend, before gradually letting up. Temperatures are then expected to rise again, with heat waves and tropical nights possible in some areas.
“From Tuesday, daytime highs in Seoul are expected to rise to 33 degrees Celsius or higher, reaching levels that could warrant a heat wave advisory, while tropical nights could also occur,” Woo said. “It is still difficult to say that the heat has receded.”
BY CHON KWON-PIL [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]
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.
