Torrential rains to dampen Children's Day holiday

Thinking about outdoor activities with the kids on Children’s Day Friday? Think again.

Pedestrians seen through a window, amid drizzling rain, beyond fallen flower petals in Jung District, central Seoul on April 5 [YONHAP]

Thinking about outdoor activities with the kids on Children's Day Friday? Think again.

Heavy rain will soak most of the country, including the Seoul metropolitan area — Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi — on Friday and Saturday, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast Wednesday.

Weather officials warned that the rains, coupled with intense winds, thunder and lightning, might be strong enough to cause property damage and flooding in lower areas.

This week's rain will start from Jeju Island on Wednesday afternoon and spread nationwide on Thursday, the KMA said.

The rains will linger on Friday before finally receding early Saturday morning.

From Thursday to Saturday, 30 to 100 millimeters (1.2 to 3.9 inches) of precipitation is expected for the country's central regions, including the Seoul metropolitan area, South Jeolla, North Jeolla, northern North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang.

Some parts of the greater Seoul area and western Gangwon could see upward of 120 millimeters.

The country's southern coastline, Jeju Island and area around Mount Jiri could receive 50 to 150 millimeters of precipitation within the three-day period, while the higher elevations of Jeju Island might get 200 to 400 millimeters.

The KMA warned that the Seoul metropolitan area, inland and higher elevations of Gagwon, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, North Jeolla and South Jeolla could see as much as 20 to 30 millimeters of rain in a single hour at times.

The country's southern coastline, Jeju Island and Mount Jiri area could be battered with 30 to 50 millimeters of rain in a single hour, while the higher mountainous areas of Jeju Island could be slammed with upward of 50 millimeters.

If the KMA's forecast is accurate, this week's rain will mark the heaviest Korea has ever seen so far this year.

Weather officials admitted it isn't usual for this much rain to fall in the springtime, adding that it was comparable to May 16, 2018, when Seoul's hourly precipitation record hit 35 millimeters.

Typhoon-level gusts moving at 20 meters per second (44.7 miles per hour) could also affect Jeju Island and the western coastlines of South Chungcheong and South Jeolla from Thursday, the KMA said.

Similar winds were forecast for the country's southern coastal areas and North and South Gyeongsang's eastern coastal areas from Friday.

Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi and the rest of the nation could see winds blowing around 15 meters per second.

Airlines and ferry operators urged passengers to monitor their service schedules closely, saying delays and cancellations were likely.

BY CHON KWON-PIL, LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]