Showers to sweep South Korea on Friday, intensifying for Liberation Day

Showers of 5 to 40 millimeters are expected to fall across much of the country from Friday morning through the evening. The rain is expected to offer some relief to southern regions suffering from severe drought.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, warm and humid air flowing in from the south will cause temperatures to rise during the day, triggering thermal low-pressure systems and destabilizing the atmosphere. Showers are forecast to continue across most of the country on Saturday, Liberation Day, with expected rainfall of 5 to 40 millimeters on Friday and 5 to 50 millimeters on Saturday. Gusty winds, thunder and lightning are likely to accompany the showers, and the public is advised to take precautions.

Rain driven by easterly winds that began Wednesday will continue along the East Sea coast and Jeju. Rain is expected to persist through Wednesday night in the northern East Sea coastal areas and northeastern mountain areas of North Gyeongsang Province, through early Friday morning in Jeju, and through Friday afternoon along the Gangwon Province East Sea coast and mountain areas. Additional rainfall in the early Friday morning hours is also forecast for central and northern inland areas of Gangwon Province. Expected additional accumulations are 10 to 50 millimeters for the Gangwon East Sea coast and mountain areas, 5 to 20 millimeters for Ulleungdo and Dokdo, 5 to 10 millimeters for Jeju, and around 5 millimeters elsewhere.

Friday temperatures will be near seasonal norms, with morning lows of 20 to 24 degrees Celsius and afternoon highs of 27 to 35 degrees. Forecast lows and highs for major cities are: Seoul 24 and 33, Incheon 24 and 32, Daejeon 23 and 33, Gwangju 24 and 34, Daegu 23 and 34, Ulsan 23 and 32, and Busan 24 and 31.

With sea levels already elevated, strong swells will continue moving into the East Sea coast through Friday and into the South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang and Jeju coastal areas through Saturday. The administration warned that sea levels along the West Sea coast, South Sea coast and Jeju coast could rise further between Thursday night and early Friday morning, with storm surge advisories potentially being issued, and urged the public to monitor the latest weather updates.