[Anchor]

The suffocating heatwave has eased slightly following the weekend. It would be ideal if some well-timed rain could also help relieve the severe drought. Attention is now focused on whether the 15th typhoon heading toward Japan will leave behind rain clouds over the Korean Peninsula.

Our first report is by reporter Jeong Gu-hui.

[Reporter]

In downtown Seoul today (August 10), hot sunlight and sweltering weather continued, but citizens looked much more relaxed compared to last week, when daily highs hovered around 40°C (104°F).

[Park Sung-bin / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: It was so hot that I felt dizzy, but it feels like it has cooled down enough that I can run for an hour straight without straining myself.]

Today, Seoul reached 34.3°C (94°F) and Gwangju 32.2°C (90°F), with western regions continuing to see temperatures around 33°C (91°F). Meanwhile, the heatwave retreated in eastern regions, with Daegu at 29.6°C (85°F) and Gangneung at 26.7°C (80°F).

Heatwave warnings issued nationwide were all lifted today, leaving only heatwave advisories in place for the Seoul metropolitan area, South Chungcheong Province, and the Honam region.

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Among the dual high-pressure systems that had been blanketing the country, the upper-level high has moved northwestward, while the lower-level high has its center positioned to the north.

Following the clockwise rotation of the high-pressure system, northeasterly winds are blowing into the country. Because these winds come from the north and are relatively cool, the intensity of the heatwave has broken.

As easterly winds cross over the mountain ranges, western regions like Seoul and Gwangju will continue to see temperatures of around 33°C (91°F) this week. However, due to the influx of cool northeasterly winds, there will be no repeat of last week's heatwave where temperatures fluctuated around 40°C (104°F).

This weather pattern is expected to continue through Wednesday.

The variable is the typhoon making landfall in Japan tomorrow.

As you can see on the satellite imagery now, the 15th typhoon, Chan-hom, has not developed significantly—to the extent that its vortex structure is barely visible.

The typhoon is projected to make landfall in eastern Japan tomorrow, where its structure is expected to completely break down and dissipate.

What will impact South Korea comes afterward.

The masses of water vapor left behind by the typhoon are forecasted to move straight out toward the East Sea. Due to this moisture, rain could fall in the eastern coastal areas and Gyeongsangnam-do region around Thursday.

Current projections suggest the rainfall is unlikely to be heavy, but we will need to monitor the process as the typhoon dissipates and breaks apart in Japan tomorrow.

(VJ: Shin So-young, Video Editing: Lee So-young, Design: Seo Seung-hyun)