Rain fell and stopped repeatedly even on the weekend... The Jangma continues

Showers Due to Converging Low-Pressure Airflows
Southern and Yeongseo Regions to Reach Daytime Highs Above 30°C
Showers and Swell Waves Mainly in Yeongdong Region on 16-17th
Stationary Front Likely to Move North Again After 18th

On the 13th, when the monsoon rain fell across the country, citizens near Seoul City Hall hurried along with umbrellas./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] This weekend, scattered showers are expected across the country, with rain repeatedly starting and stopping. After the 18th, there is a possibility of renewed monsoon rains mainly around Jeju and the southern coast, showing no signs of the monsoon season ending.

On the 14th, the Korea Meteorological Administration stated in its regular forecast briefing that a low-pressure system developed along the stationary front, which brought heavy rain to the Korean Peninsula, is rotating counterclockwise and moving northeastward. As it converges with another low-pressure system located to the east, showers will fall in various inland areas.

It is advisable to carry an umbrella when going out this weekend. Showers caused by converging airflows occur regardless of day or night and tend to last long until atmospheric instability is resolved. This is different from the short-lived afternoon showers caused by atmospheric instability due to surface heating during the daytime.

Additionally, under the influence of high pressure located in the west, cool and dry air descends in the upper atmosphere. Combined with surface heating during the day, atmospheric instability will cause intermittent rain in various places.

Especially on the weekend of the 16th and 17th, easterly winds will bring rain mainly to the Yeongdong region due to topographical effects. With the low-pressure system positioned to the east, easterly winds will blow, and as airflows from the south and north converge, rain clouds will develop, causing strong instability. Visitors to the East Coast should also be cautious of high swell waves.

Forecast analyst Woo Jin-gyu explained, "Convergence of airflows between low-pressure systems causes convective rainfall between them. As small low-pressure systems pass northeastward, atmospheric instability frequently occurs, resulting in showers. The western regions will experience showers due to atmospheric instability, while the eastern areas will see precipitation due to airflow convergence."

Although showers will fall, hot weather will persist for the time being. The southern coast, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla regions in the west will see daytime highs rise above 30 degrees Celsius. As the easterly winds pass over the Taebaek Mountains and warm up, temperatures in the western regions are expected to rise further. While hot and humid air from the south has caused a 'steam heat' wave for some time, humidity is expected to decrease somewhat this weekend.

Analyst Woo added, "This weekend, the influence of dry air coming down from the north will lower humidity relatively, even though temperatures remain high. Tropical nights are expected near the southern coast."

The monsoon season is not over yet. From the 18th, the stationary front is expected to reactivate due to the low-pressure system, the Tibetan high pressure, and the North Pacific high pressure. The Tibetan high will draw dry air from the west, while the North Pacific high located to the south will pull up warm and humid air, allowing the stationary front to maintain its strength in the south and move northward.

In the medium-term forecast released by the Korea Meteorological Administration on the same day, rain is expected in Jeju from the 18th to the 22nd, and precipitation is forecasted in Gwangju, Jeonnam, Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam from the 19th to the 21st. However, since there is still a possibility of the stationary front moving northward, the precipitation areas may change.

Analyst Woo said, "It is premature to mention the end of the monsoon season. The stationary front is expected to move northward as low-pressure systems activate in southern China, and the variability of the stationary front is high depending on the low-pressure systems approaching near southern China."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.