Korea's northern, central regions regions brace for weekend downpour

Korea's northern and central regions regions will face heavy rainfall and monsoon showers with some areas expecting over 150 millimeters of rain over the weekend. Maximum temperatures will range between 26 and 33 degrees Celsius.

People walk in rain with umbrellas in Gwangju on Friday. [YONHAP]

The country’s southern regions will experience downpour with hourly precipitation of around 30 millimeters (1.18 inches) until Friday.

Monsoon rain is expected to soak the provinces of South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang and Chungcheong throughout the day, according to the national weather agency.

The greater Seoul area and Gangwon are expected to see intermittent rainfall on Friday.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Gwangju, South Jeolla, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang are expected to receive rainfall between 30 to 80 millimeters and North Jeolla and Jeju between 20 and 60 millimeters.

The administration predicted that daily accumulated precipitation in the Chungcheong provinces and North Gyeongsang regions would range between 5 and 30 millimeters. The Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon are likely to receive rainfall of more than five but less than 20 millimeters.

The monsoon rain will shower the nation over the weekend, with some areas in the southern Gyeonggi and Chungcheong regions receiving more than 150 millimeters of rain in two days.

On Saturday, the northern and central regions of the nation — the greater Seoul area, Gangwon, Chungcheong provinces and North Jeolla — will receive rainfall of between 20 and 80 millimeters. The southern regions are predicted to receive relatively less rain. The Jeolla and Gyeongsang regions are likely to receive 5 to 60 millimeters of rain. Jeju is forecast to see rainfall of 5 to 10 millimeters in a day.

The KMA said strong wind and gusts could occur along with rain during the weekend.

The weather agency noted that highest temperatures on Saturday and Sunday would range between 26 and 33 degrees Celsius (78.8 and 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit) across the country.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]