Why Can't Helicopters Take Off in Gangneung... The Reason Behind the Extreme Strong Winds?

On the morning of the 11th, a wildfire that broke out in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, spread uncontrollably to nearby homes and cultural properties. In particular, this wildfire was exacerbated by dry weather combined with strong winds, making fire suppression efforts difficult.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted very strong winds across most regions nationwide that day. A dry weather warning and a strong wind warning were issued simultaneously for the entire Yeongdong region, including Gangneung where the wildfire occurred.

On the morning of the 11th, residents are watching the fire scene as a fire that broke out on a hill in Nangok-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon, spreads near houses. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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Along the East Coast, gusts reached a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 30 m/s, hindering the deployment of helicopters for firefighting. Around 2:30 PM that day, as the average wind speed in the Gangneung area dropped to 12 m/s and gusts to 19 m/s, authorities deployed one extra-large helicopter and two large helicopters.

The reason for such strong winds is that a 'wind corridor' was created between a low-pressure system lingering north of the Korean Peninsula and a mobile high-pressure system located south of Japan.

Strong westerly winds blow as air rapidly flows between the counterclockwise-rotating low-pressure system and the clockwise-rotating high-pressure system. This phenomenon is also known as 'yangganjipung' (a local wind blowing from Yeongseo to Yeongdong regions in spring) or 'hwapung' (火風), meaning 'fire wind' that 'brings fire.'

In the weather information released at 1:30 PM that day, the Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that strong winds with instantaneous gusts exceeding 20 m/s would blow until the morning of the next day (the 12th) in Gangwon Yeongdong, the East Coast of Gyeongbuk, the West Coast of Jeonnam, and Jeju Island.

Meanwhile, firefighting efforts accelerated in the afternoon. As of 3:30 PM, the wildfire suppression rate had risen to 88%.

The Central Wildfire Response Headquarters of the Korea Forest Service stated that the cause of the Gangneung wildfire is presumed to be a short circuit in power lines.

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