People holding umbrellas walk in the rain in central Seoul on July 8.YONHAP
Sudden, torrential rain is falling across much of Korea on Wednesday, and the strong monsoon downpours of up to 50 millimeters (2 inches) an hour are expected to last through Thursday.
A stationary front is bringing heavy rain with gusts, thunder and lightning mainly over central Korea and the Gwangju and Jeolla provinces, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.
The first emergency heavy-rain alert of this monsoon season went out at 1:11 p.m. in Buyeo, South Chungcheong, where 68.5 millimeters fell in an hour.
The alert is issued when rainfall tops 50 millimeters in an hour and 90 millimeters over three hours, or exceeds 72 millimeters in a single hour.
A heavy rain warning was in effect for Daejeon and parts of Chungcheong provinces. Through Thursday, the greater Seoul area and other parts of the country could see up to 50 millimeters an hour and more than 200 millimeters in total.
"Very strong rain of 20 to 50 millimeters an hour, and more than 50 millimeters in places, is expected where it rains between Wednesday and Thursday, and could cause damage," the agency said. "Water in valleys and streams can rise suddenly, so avoid approaching or camping near them, and move somewhere safe if the sky darkens quickly."
A vehicle drives through a puddle in Daejeon on July 8.YONHAP
This year's monsoon has brought frequent bursts of sudden, highly localized rain. The rain bands are narrow, so totals vary sharply from place to place, and heat follows once the rain stops.
On Wednesday, 26.5 millimeters fell in Buan, North Jeolla, in just 15 minutes, the equivalent of more than 100 millimeters an hour. Boeun in North Chungcheong and Seoul's Gangseo District recorded 24 and 17 millimeters in 15 minutes, respectively.
Weather experts point to high sea-surface temperatures around the Korean Peninsula. The warm water is drawing in unusually hot, humid air along the edge of the North Pacific High, and that air is meeting colder, drier air from the north to build strong rain clouds.
The monsoon is forecast to ease starting Friday, and a heat wave is likely to build. Over the weekend, the apparent temperature could reach 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul and 36 degrees Celsius in the south, with tropical nights likely in many areas.
"This year's monsoon is marked by intense rainfall paired with heat waves," said Lee Jae-jung, forecast team leader at Kweather, a private weather company. "Very strong rain in the form of extreme downpours is likely to stay frequent for the rest of the monsoon, and when it eases, severe heat will follow, so people should take care of both facilities and their health."
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.
