[Anchor]

While the forecast initially suggested that the nationwide monsoon season would not begin until this weekend, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced today that the monsoon season has officially started across the entire country, including the central regions, following its arrival in Jeju yesterday (June 30). However, the rain that fell in Seoul and the metropolitan area today was classified as localized showers, and these regions are expected to come under the influence of the monsoon starting next week.

Reporter Jeong Gu-hui has the details.

[Reporter]

In the mountainous areas of Hallasan Mountain in Jeju Island, which has already entered the monsoon season, up to 246mm of heavy rain has fallen as of today.

With 106mm recorded in Seongsan, Jeju, and 115mm in Bogildo, South Jeolla Province, the monsoon season has begun with intense rainfall.

What you are seeing now are the clouds that have been bringing rain to Jeju Island since yesterday.

A long band of rain clouds has formed along the monsoon front.

Pushing this monsoon front northward is a mass of hot and humid air from the North Pacific High located to the south.

As this high-pressure system expands its influence toward the Korean Peninsula, the monsoon front moves north.

Yesterday, the Korea Meteorological Administration expected the monsoon rain to reach only the southern regions, specifically North and South Jeolla Provinces and North and South Gyeongsang Provinces.

However, looking at the radar imagery of the rain clouds today, it is confirmed that the monsoon front also brought rain to the central regions of Chungcheong Province and Gangwon Province.

As the thin band of rain clouds moved slightly further north than expected, 3mm of rain fell in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, and 1.3mm in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.

Although the forecast yesterday stated that the monsoon would not begin in the central regions until this weekend, the Korea Meteorological Administration declared the start of the nationwide monsoon season today after observing rain in the central areas of Chungcheong and Gangwon, despite the small amounts.

However, as the northward force of the monsoon front is not strong, it is expected to remain south of Jeju Island for the time being.

Rain is expected to fall again in the southern regions and South Chungcheong Province around Saturday, while the Seoul metropolitan area is currently forecast to see monsoon rain starting next Monday.

Localized rain fell in the southwestern part of Seoul during the evening commute today, but as seen on the radar, this was not caused by the monsoon front near Jeju Island.

While these are not monsoon rains, short, localized showers lasting an hour or two are expected to occur frequently moving forward.

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