Heavy Monsoon Rains of Up to 200mm Expected Nationwide; Showers to Continue Through Thursday Morning in Seoul Metropolitan Area

Monsoon rains are expected to pour across the country today, July 8.

The stationary front will move north and south across the central region, bringing rain to the entire nation throughout the day.

Significant rainfall has already been recorded overnight, particularly in the Seoul metropolitan area, inland Gangwon Province, and South Chungcheong Province.

From 9:00 p.m. yesterday to 8:00 a.m. today, rainfall reached 47.4 mm in Baengnyeongdo, Ongjin-gun, Incheon; 37.0 mm in Gangseo-gu, Seoul; and 36.0 mm in Jangheung-myeon, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. Rainfall totals reached 20–50 mm in the coastal areas of Incheon and northern Gyeonggi, and 5–30 mm in other parts of the Seoul metropolitan area, inland Gangwon, and South Chungcheong Province.

The rain is expected to continue nationwide until the night of July 9, and until the morning of July 10 in the Seoul metropolitan area and the inland and mountainous regions of Gangwon Province.

Forecasted rainfall through July 9 is 80–150 mm for Chungcheong and North Jeolla (with over 200 mm in some areas); 50–100 mm for the Seoul metropolitan area, inland and mountainous Gangwon, and central and northern North Gyeongsang (with over 150 mm in some parts of the Seoul metropolitan area, central and southern inland Gangwon, and central and northern North Gyeongsang); 30–80 mm for northwestern South Jeolla (with over 100 mm in some areas); 20–60 mm for Baengnyeongdo, Daegu, and southern North Gyeongsang; 10–40 mm for Gwangju and South Jeolla (excluding the northwest); 5–50 mm for the eastern coast of Gangwon; 5–40 mm for western inland South Gyeongsang, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo; 5–20 mm for mountainous Jeju; and around 5 mm for the rest of Jeju.

Additional rainfall of 20–60 mm and 5–40 mm is expected on July 10 for Baengnyeongdo and the Seoul metropolitan area/inland and mountainous Gangwon, respectively.

Localized downpours with rainfall rates of around 30 mm per hour are expected at times.

In particular, as cold, dry air descends behind a trough in the north, it will compress the stationary front and its rain clouds. Combined with a low-level jet stream carrying high levels of water vapor, some areas may experience downpours of 30–50 mm per hour, with peak rates exceeding 50 mm, late today.

Chungcheong and North Jeolla may see 30–50 mm per hour this evening and night, followed by over 50 mm per hour from early dawn to the morning of July 9 (morning for the South Chungcheong region).

Inland southern Gyeonggi, central and northern North Gyeongsang, and central/southern inland and mountainous Gangwon are also expected to experience downpours of 30–50 mm per hour between early dawn and the afternoon of July 9.

Heavy rain in North Korea may also cause water levels to rise and flow speeds to increase in rivers shared by the two Koreas, such as the Imjin, Hantan, and North Han rivers.

Residents in northern Gyeonggi and northern Gangwon, where these shared rivers flow, should take precautions to prevent accidents.

Strong winds are also a concern.

Since early this morning, wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h (25 m/s) have been blowing in the northern mountainous regions of Gangwon. Gusts of around 55 km/h (70 km/h in mountainous areas) are expected to continue through this afternoon in the rest of the central region, North Jeolla, the coasts of South Jeolla, and Jeju.

Despite the rain, the sweltering heat will persist due to the continuous influx of hot and humid air along the edge of the North Pacific High.

For the time being, daytime highs in inland areas are expected to reach over 30°C (86°F), with perceived temperatures hovering around 31°C (88°F).

In areas under heat wave advisories—including southeastern Gyeonggi, southern Gangwon, Sejong, central/southern North Chungcheong, northwestern North Jeolla, southeastern South Jeolla, the Yeongnam region, and Jeju—perceived temperatures may soar to 33°C (91°F) or higher.

As of 8:00 a.m., temperatures in major cities were 23.5°C (74°F) in Seoul, 23.7°C (75°F) in Incheon, 26.1°C (79°F) in Daejeon, 27.2°C (81°F) in Gwangju, 28.2°C (83°F) in Daegu, 26.9°C (80°F) in Ulsan, and 25.2°C (77°F) in Busan.

Daily highs are expected to range between 26°C (79°F) and 33°C (91°F).

High seas warnings are in effect for the far seas of the West Sea, the far seas south of Jeju (excluding the inner southeastern far seas), the front seas of the central West Sea, and the front seas of North Jeolla. Winds of 30–60 km/h (8–16 m/s) and waves of 1.5–3.5 meters are expected through today.

Starting this afternoon, swells are expected to reach the coast of Jeju, creating high waves that could surge over breakwaters or rocky shores; the public is advised to avoid coastal areas.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.