Typhoon Khanun Changes Course Toward Korean Peninsula... Likely to Affect 'Jamboree' at Saemangeum as Well

The 6th typhoon of the season, "Khanun," which had been heading toward Okinawa, Japan, suddenly changed course on the 7th and is moving north toward the Korean Peninsula. Khanun is forecasted to pass through the Korean Peninsula on the 10th, bringing strong winds and rain to the Saemangeum area in Jeonbuk, where the World Scout Jamboree is being held.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on the 7th, Khanun was initially predicted to move into the East Sea and then head toward Ulleungdo and Dokdo, but it has changed its path and is approaching the Korean Peninsula. A KMA official explained, "It is expected to enter the sea about 90 km southwest of Busan on the morning of the 10th."

Khanun has a central pressure of 970 hPa and is accompanied by strong winds with a speed of 35 m/s. Its radius of strong winds extends up to 320 km, so the entire country is expected to be directly affected by the typhoon. At this time, the typhoon's intensity is classified as "strong," which is severe enough to derail trains. Entering through the southern coast, Typhoon Khanun is highly likely to pass directly through the Korean Peninsula.

Saemangeum, where the Jamboree is taking place, is currently predicted to be outside the direct strong wind zone of the typhoon, but due to the high variability in the typhoon's path, it cannot be considered safe. The KMA analyzed that the development and position of a tropical depression forming southeast of Khanun, the expansion of the North Pacific High located east of the Korean Peninsula, and the development of a pressure trough approaching Korea from the upper atmosphere in the northwest all influence the typhoon's trajectory. Accordingly, Saemangeum is forecasted to experience very strong winds starting from the 9th, along with 5 to 30 mm of rainfall. The Jeonju World Cup Stadium, where a K-pop concert for Jamboree participants is scheduled on the 11th, is expected to have strong winds and considerable rain from the afternoon of the 9th through the afternoon of the 10th, but on the 11th, only clouds are expected with no rain forecast.

Meanwhile, there are still variables in Khanun's predicted path. The UK numerical weather prediction model (UM) suggests a scenario where Khanun enters the coast of the Gyeongsang region and moves northwest, crossing the Korean Peninsula. However, the US Navy-operated global weather numerical prediction model (NOGAPS) expects Khanun to pass through Japan's Shikoku and Kansai regions and then move northeast into the East Sea, far from the Korean Peninsula.

The KMA predicts that the typhoon will transform into an extratropical cyclone within 120 hours. Based on this, Khanun is expected to reach land about 260 km north-northwest of Kanggae, North Korea, by 9 a.m. on the 12th and change into an extratropical cyclone.

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