[Weather] Nationwide Rain Brings Relief from Heat... Up to 80mm or More Expected

On Wednesday, May 20, rain is expected across most regions nationwide, bringing some relief from the early summer heat that has persisted recently. Heavy and intense rainfall is forecast, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area, Yeongdong in Gangwon Province, the southern coast, and the mountainous areas of Jeju Island, necessitating caution regarding commuter safety and potential damage to facilities.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, rain will begin in the early morning hours in Chungnam, Jeolla regions, and Jeju Island, expanding across the country by late morning. In most areas, the rain will continue until the afternoon of May 21. In Yeongdong, Gangwon and Jeju Island, rain may persist into the evening.

Last July, pedestrians passing through the Gwanghwamun Intersection in Seoul hurried along, armed with umbrellas and rain boots. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Expected precipitation amounts are as follows: 30-80 mm in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Yeongdong in Gangwon; 20-60 mm in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam; 20-60 mm in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk; and 10-50 mm in Daegu and Gyeongbuk.

Some areas of the southern coast of Jeonnam and the western southern coast of Gyeongnam may see more than 80 mm of heavy rain. In Jeju Island, except for the northern area, 30-80 mm is expected, with up to 120 mm or more in mountainous areas, and over 100 mm in the southern mid-mountainous regions.

In the Seoul metropolitan area and Yeongdong in Gangwon, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall of around 20 mm per hour between the night of May 20 and the early morning of May 21. In the mountainous areas and southern mid-mountainous regions of Jeju Island, extremely heavy rain of about 30 mm per hour is forecast.

In addition to the rain, there may be gusty winds, thunder, and lightning in some areas. From the afternoon onward, strong winds with instantaneous speeds of around 55 km/h are expected, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong region, Jeolla region, and Jeju Island. On Jeju Island, from nighttime, wind gusts may exceed 70 km/h, and in the mountains, more than 90 km/h is anticipated.

The Korea Meteorological Administration has urged the public to prepare for potential damage such as retaining wall collapses, landslides, and road flooding, and to frequently check the latest weather updates.

Morning lows are forecast to range from 15 to 19 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius. Due to the rain, the heat that pushed temperatures up to around 30 degrees Celsius in previous days is expected to ease somewhat.

Fine dust concentrations are expected to remain at a 'good' level nationwide, thanks to smooth air dispersion and the effects of precipitation.

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