Nationwide rain forecast for long weekend to bring relief to drought-hit south

A nationwide rain forecast is set to bring relief to drought-stricken southern regions of South Korea over the upcoming long weekend, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The rain is expected to start in inland parts of the country on Saturday and continue nationwide for the following two days due to a low pressure system advancing from Shanghai. The long holiday weekend, which coincides with Liberation Day on Saturday, runs through Monday.

Southern parts of the country, particularly the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang, have been severely impacted by the drought. As of August 11, water storage levels in the region had plummeted to just 32.3 percent, far below the long-term average of 70.8 percent. The lack of rainfall in recent months has left reservoirs in South Gyeongsang and the southeastern cities of Busan and Ulsan critically low, with the latter receiving only 16.6 mm of precipitation during the period between July 12 and August 11, marking the lowest level since 1973.

The KMA's forecast of rain comes as authorities in South Gyeongsang have issued a national firefighting mobilization order and deployed water tankers across the nation to aid drought-affected areas.