Pierced Sky, Up to 250mm More Rain Expected in Parts of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Until Tomorrow

Heavy Rainfall Continues Due to Stationary Front
Severe Rainstorm Warning Lifted in Seoul Metropolitan Area, But It's Too Early to Relax
Flooding and Power Outages Reported Nationwide Overnight Due to Torrential Rain

Throughout the night, heavy monsoon rains poured down so intensely that nationwide heavy rain warnings were issued, and it is expected that strong winds accompanied by thunder and lightning will continue across the country until the 15th. Various damages occurred due to the heavy rain overnight.

On the 11th, when heavy monsoon rain was pouring, residents near Ihwa Bridge in Seoul were moving while holding umbrellas. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, by the morning of the 14th, Seoul, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi, and central and northern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province are forecasted to receive very heavy rain at a rate of 20 to 50 mm per hour. Southern Gyeonggi, southern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, Chungcheong region, Jeolla region, and northern inland areas of Gyeongbuk are expected to see very heavy rain at a rate of 30 to 80 mm per hour until the day after tomorrow.

The cumulative expected rainfall nationwide until the 15th is ▲100 to 250 mm in the central region (excluding the eastern coast of Gangwon), Jeonbuk, and northern inland Gyeongbuk (with over 400 mm in Chungnam and Jeonbuk, and over 300 mm in southern Gyeonggi, southern inland and mountainous Gangwon, and Chungbuk) ▲50 to 150 mm in the eastern coast of Gangwon, Jeonnam region, and Gyeongsang region (with over 200 mm in Jeonnam) ▲5 to 60 mm in Jeju Island.

The monsoon rain is expected to continue until the 20th, with not only a large amount of rainfall but also a high possibility of very strong rain showers. Depending on atmospheric conditions, some areas may experience hourly rainfall exceeding 80 mm.

From the 14th to the 15th, the stationary front and the accompanying low-pressure system will separate, causing the front to move southward. The stationary front is expected to become active as cold, dry air descending behind the low-pressure system collides with the hot, humid air blowing along the edge of the expanded North Pacific High. As a result, very heavy rain will fall in narrow areas, leading to significant differences in rain intensity and rainfall amounts across regions.

The heavy rain warning issued for the entire Seoul metropolitan area since the previous day was lifted on the morning of the 14th. The heavy rain advisory was lifted at midnight on the 14th for the five islands in the West Sea, at 5 a.m. for Incheon, and at 6:30 a.m. for Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. However, the Korea Meteorological Administration cautioned that there is a possibility of heavy rain warnings being reissued, especially centered on southern Gyeonggi.

On the 13th, during the ongoing summer monsoon, the walkway along Cheonggyecheon in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is closed to the public. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Last night, heavy rain poured mainly over the Seoul metropolitan area. Overnight rainfall included 195.5 mm in Changhyeon (Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province), 193.5 mm in Nowon (Seoul), 179.0 mm in Cheongpyeong (Gapyeong), 172.0 mm in Guri, 170.0 mm in Osan, and 176.5 mm in Nami Island (Chuncheon).

Rainfall of 70 to 80 mm occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong, and Jeolla regions, with hourly rainfall exceeding 30 mm in Seoul. On the 13th at 9 p.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration upgraded the heavy rain advisory for the entire Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, to a heavy rain warning.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety also raised the crisis alert level from ‘caution’ to the highest level ‘severe’ and upgraded the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) from level 2 to level 3 as the heavy rain warning was expanded to the central region at 8:30 p.m. on the same day.

The monsoon season, which began on June 25, had an average cumulative rainfall nationwide of 316.8 mm as of the 13th, already far exceeding the July average rainfall of 288.5 mm (1991?2020 average).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Due to the heavy rain overnight, damages occurred across the country. While there were no casualties in the Seoul metropolitan area, nationwide there was one missing person and one injured person reported.

In Seoul, structural collapses and power outages continued. Around 3:50 p.m. on the 13th, a wall of a commercial building in Amsa-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, collapsed, breaking the glass window of the adjacent building’s restroom.

At around midnight on the 14th, a street tree fell near Ansan in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, cutting a high-voltage power line and causing a power outage affecting more than 2,000 households. About an hour and a half after the incident, power was restored to approximately 2,000 apartment units, but some villas remained without power. In Dobong-gu, 2,123 households also experienced power outages, but restoration has since been completed.

Flood-related incidents also occurred. Around 3 p.m. the previous day, parts of Yeouidaebang-ro in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, were temporarily flooded, and several roads near Gangnam Station, which suffered significant damage from flooding last year, were submerged. Around 4 p.m., just before rush hour, flooding occurred near Nonhyeon Station on Hakdong-ro and at the intersection in front of Cha Hospital in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul.

There were also dangerous situations where citizens had to evacuate. As of 2 a.m. on the 14th, 78 people from 37 households had evacuated in Seoul. At 6:35 p.m. the previous day, a retaining wall on a road in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, collapsed, prompting 46 people from 20 households living below the wall to move to shelters. Additionally, some residents living in semi-basements across Seoul evacuated in preparation for flooding.

Damage also occurred in Incheon and Gyeonggi. On the 13th, in Sudong-myeon, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, soil from a slope near a residential area slid down, causing two residents to evacuate to the village hall. At Gyeyang Station in Incheon, power was cut on the section toward Seoul Station, causing the Airport Railroad trains to suspend operation for five minutes on five train sets.

A Korea Meteorological Administration official stated, “Due to the recent heavy rain, the ground has weakened and water levels in rivers and valleys have risen,” adding, “There is a high possibility of additional damage from further rain, so thorough preparation is necessary.”

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