Another "Water Bomb" on Its Way: Up to 300mm of Rain to Drop in Central Korea Through Wednesday

On the night of August 8, when a torrential downpour pounded Seoul, a citizen wades through the water after the roads near Daechi Station in Seoul were flooded. Seong Dong-hun

A downpour of up to 380 millimeters of rain pounded on Seoul Monday, and a “water bomb” that may pour up to 300 millimeters more rain is expected to pass through central Korea through August 10.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced, “Due to the stationary front, rain, along with strong winds, thunder and lightning, is expected to fall in the central area, Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do for a while.” Rain clouds forming in the west are continuing their way through central Korea. They are passing in the form of a long and narrow line stretched east to west, moving at a very slow speed, which is why torrential rains of 50-100 millimeters an hour are expected.

On the night of August 8, when a torrential downpour pounded Seoul, a bus is flooded with water after roads near Daechi Station were flooded. Seong Dong-hun

According to the regional forecast, 100-200 millimeters of rain is expected in the greater Seoul area, Gangwon inland, northern Chungcheong and northwestern Gyeongsangbuk-do through August 10, with up to 300 millimeters falling in some parts of the Seoul metropolitan area and in Gangwon inland and mountains. The weather authority forecast 50-100 millimeters more rain in the Gangwon east coast, Chungcheong, northern Gyeongsangbuk-do, and the five Yellow Sea (West Sea) islands and 20-80 millimeters of rain in northern Jeollabuk-do, Ulleung-do and Dok-do, and southern Gyeongsangbuk-do.

The rain will continue through August 11. In a briefing earlier on August 7, the Korea Meteorological Administration predicted, “The low pressure north of the Korean Peninsula is rotating, increasing the difference in pressure. The air stream in the north is getting stronger, so stronger rain clouds could form on August 10-11.”

The weather administration said, “Damages due to rain is expected, since more rain will fall in the greater Seoul area and in Gangwon, where 100-300 millimeters of rain has already fallen from the previous day, so we need to be thoroughly prepared,” and asked people to take caution against flooding in low-lying areas, flooding of streams and reservoirs, and quickly forming rapids.

When heavy rains continue, they can soften the ground, increasing the risk of landslides. The Korea Forest Service raised the landslide warning to “alert” in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi as of 1 a.m. August 9. A landslide cautionary or alert has been issued in most of the Seoul metropolitan area. The KMA asked people in areas at risk of landslides to evacuate to a safe place beforehand.