Heavy rain Friday to bring sweltering heat to blissful end

Heavy downpours are expected to fall over the Korean Peninsula on Friday, ending the record-breaking late heat wave that has gripped the country for the past week.

People walk in the monsoon rain in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, on July 4, 2023 [YONHAP]

Heavy downpours are expected to fall over the Korean Peninsula on Friday, ending the record-breaking late heat wave that has gripped the country for the past week.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said on Thursday that the waning of the Tibetan high pressure responsible for the recent heat wave will coincide with the descent of cold air from the north and the rise of hot and humid air from the North Pacific high pressure in the south.

High-pressure systems cause hot weather by pushing air close to the ground and heating it.

The hot and humid air will continue to rise from the south Friday morning, causing rain and showers in areas where it collides with the terrain or cold northern air.

As a result, Jeju Island and the southern coast of South Jeolla are likely to experience rain first, with areas near Mount Jiri expected to see 30 to 50 millimeters (1.18 to 1.97 inches) of rain per hour from early Friday morning to early Saturday.

The stationary front that is expected to form between the cold and hot systems is likely to bring rain first to the country's central regions before moving down the peninsula, according to the weather agency, which noted that temperatures are expected to drop with rainfall.

From Friday afternoon until early Saturday morning, the stationary front will hang over central regions of the Korean Peninsula, bringing 30 to 50 millimeters of rain per hour, with western Gangwon predicted to see around 30 millimeters per hour.

At the same time, the inland Jeolla region, the western coast of North Jeolla, inland South Gyeongsang and some parts of North Gyeongsang are expected to see about 30 millimeters of rain per hour.

By Saturday morning, the stationary front will likely move farther south, the weather agency said, adding that if the North Pacific high holds its position longer than expected, the amount of rain and the duration of showers could increase.

By Saturday night, the stationary front will have moved down toward the southern coast, bringing an end to rain in most regions except Jeju and the eastern coast, which will be affected by winds from the cold high-pressure system over Korea.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]