"KMA Refutes Rumors of 'Record-Breaking Rainy Season in June'... Warning Issued Against Misinformation"

Rainy Season Start and End Dates Now Announced Only After Analysis
Climate Change Makes Rainy Season Predictions Difficult
Rainy Season Forecasts Discontinued Since 2009

Recently, sensational forecasts such as "Record-breaking rainy season in June 2026" and "Rain for an entire month" have quickly spread on social media, increasing public anxiety. However, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has clearly stated that this information is "fake news that has not been officially announced," warning the public to be cautious about the indiscriminate spread of misinformation.

On April 14, the KMA announced through its official social media channels that "there has been no official announcement regarding the rainy season forecasts circulating on social media," adding, "We hope to prevent any confusion."

The Korea Meteorological Administration officially announced through its social media channels that "there has been no official release regarding the rainy season forecasts circulating on SNS" and expressed hope that "there will be no confusion." Korea Meteorological Administration SNS

The problematic posts use phrases such as "2026 rainy season period revealed," "Record-breaking rainy season expected," and "Rain for an entire month," making them appear like actual forecasts. However, these posts simply summarize the average rainy season periods from the past 30 years (1991–2020) and mislead the public into thinking they are predictions for this year. According to the KMA, based on climatological averages, the rainy season typically lasts from June 19 to July 20 in Jeju Island, from June 23 to July 24 in the southern regions, and from June 25 to July 26 in the central regions. However, these are merely statistical averages and do not constitute "forecast information" that applies the same way every year. In reality, the start date, precipitation, and duration of the rainy season vary greatly from year to year.

In particular, the rainy season is heavily influenced by the position and strength of the stationary front, which forms depending on the expansion and contraction of the North Pacific high-pressure system and its interaction with the cold, dry air from the north. If this front lingers near the Korean Peninsula for an extended period, heavy rains may continue, but if it moves quickly or weakens, the rainy season can be shorter or there may be fewer rainy days.

Recently, on social media (SNS), sensational forecasts such as "historic monsoon in June 2026" and "rain throughout the entire month" have been rapidly spreading, increasing public anxiety. However, this information has been revealed to be false. Screenshot from SNS

Recently, due to the effects of climate change, the rainy season pattern itself has significantly changed. Instead of the traditional "long, drawn-out rains," there has been an increase in short but intense localized downpours and extreme heavy rainfall, making it difficult to describe current conditions using past averages. For this reason, since 2009, the KMA no longer announces the start and end dates of the rainy season in advance.

Neighboring countries such as Japan and China also do not specify the rainy season period in advance. Currently, the KMA focuses on short- and medium-term forecasts, and only provides related information if the North Pacific high-pressure system is expected to cause several days of rain. The official start and end of the rainy season are also announced retrospectively after summer, based on observation data. A KMA official emphasized, "It is difficult to accurately predict the number of rainy days or the duration of the rainy season with the current level of scientific knowledge," and urged the public to refer to official forecasts rather than unverified information on social media."

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