'Real Monsoon' Now Begins... The Baiu Front That Swept Japan Is Moving Up

Influence of North Pacific High and Tibetan High
"Prolonged Heavy Rain" from Strong Monsoon Front

On the 11th, heavy rain poured across the country, and a forecast was issued that the 'real monsoon' would begin.

On the 11th, heavy rain causes widespread damage nationwide

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), heavy rain warnings were issued on the 11th for the Seoul metropolitan area, inland Gangwon, parts of Chungnam, and southern regions. In Guro-gu, Seoul, torrential rain exceeding 70mm per hour fell, prompting the KMA to send extreme heavy rain disaster alerts around 4 p.m. to the areas of Guro-gu, Dongjak-gu, and Yeongdeungpo-gu.

At around 3:30 p.m., a 68-year-old woman went missing near Hakjangcheon in Sasang-gu, Busan. In Wonju, Gangwon, three houses were temporarily flooded, and in Buk-gu, Daegu, a retaining wall collapsed, damaging 29 vehicles.

In Sangju, Gyeongbuk, one person was preemptively evacuated to the village senior center due to concerns over landslide collapse.

At one point in the afternoon, subway Line 1 service was suspended for about 15 minutes on some sections.

The KMA warned, "Very heavy rain exceeding 70mm per hour and a maximum cumulative rainfall of over 180mm until the 12th are expected in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Caution is advised for floods along rivers and landslides."

Until the morning of the 12th, strong rain accompanied by gusts, thunder, and lightning is expected in the central region, Jeolla, northern inland Gyeongbuk, and coastal areas of Gyeongnam, so caution is necessary.

Strong monsoon front causes 5 deaths in Japan... Impact on the Korean Peninsula from the 13th

The flooded scene of Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Despite the heavy rain, the KMA predicts that the full-scale monsoon will begin on the 13th. This is because the North Pacific high pressure expands, causing the monsoon front currently over Japan to move northward toward the Korean Peninsula around the 13th.

Additionally, the Tibetan high pressure approaching from the west of the Korean Peninsula will cover the peninsula on the same day, and the meeting of these two massive air masses is expected to form a powerful monsoon front. At that time, rather than sporadic short bursts of rain, a large amount of rain will fall for an extended period. This monsoon front is currently causing heavy rain and significant damage in Japan.

Local media such as NHK reported that Fukuoka Prefecture and Oita Prefecture experienced unprecedented levels of torrential rain not seen in decades. In particular, the rainfall in Kurume City, southern Fukuoka Prefecture, exceeded 402mm in 24 hours, setting an all-time record. As a result, some rivers in the area overflowed, and landslides occurred, causing 5 deaths and several people to be missing. The Japan Meteorological Agency also expects this monsoon front to affect Japan until the 12th, and the Korean Meteorological Administration forecasts that the monsoon front will pass through the Seoul metropolitan area to Gyeongsang Province around 9 a.m. on the 13th, impacting most regions nationwide, urging caution.

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