저기압이 된 태풍, 한반도로…광복절 연휴 소나기 온다

Heavy rains are expected across the nation during the annual holiday period following the nation's independence day. The southern regions and the vicinity of Jirisan Mountain are likely to receive the most rainfall, but the exact locations and amounts are difficult to predict at this time. On Friday, the Korea Meteorological Administration held a regular briefing and predicted that a low-pressure system near Shanghai, China, would move northeast towards South Korea, with rainfall expanding to the entire country by early morning on Saturday.

Currently, the atmospheric pressure around South Korea shows a weakening of the previous heatwave-inducing high-pressure system in the northwest, with a complex pressure system in place. To the north and northeast, dry, high-pressure areas prevail, while a transformed tropical depression remains in the south. The 13th typhoon, "Dolpin," has remained near Shanghai, China, before drifting towards South Korea, bringing moist air from the south and causing rain.

Complex atmospheric conditions make it difficult to accurately forecast rain areas and amounts, according to the Meteorological Administration. However, "heavy rainfall in areas influenced by terrain, such as mountainous and valley regions, is possible. Caution is advised for flooding in hills and valleys," said Younghee Jeombyeom, a forecaster.

Severe drought continues in the central region, but this rainfall may provide some relief, according to Yunji Myungbyeom, a weather warning analyst. The administration will hold an early briefing on Saturday, 15th, to provide more detailed rainfall forecasts. Over the weekend, expect mainly light rain. Eastern South Korea will mainly see light rain (10-50mm), while the interior will experience light to moderate rain (5-40mm).

On the 15th, nationwide light to moderate rain (5-50mm) is expected. While the recent series of typhoons did not directly impact South Korea, they disrupted the Korean atmospheric pressure system, causing severe heat. The northeast Pacific high-pressure system, responsible for the extreme heat, has temporarily weakened. Combined with this rainfall, it is expected that the heat will be alleviated in the early part of the next week.

However, after the pressure system stabilizes, some regions may experience heat and high temperatures again. According to the expected average temperature in Seoul, the highest temperature on Friday, the 14th, will reach up to 33 degrees Celsius, but it will drop to around 30 degrees Celsius from the weekend to the early part of next week, and then rise again to around 33 degrees.

Yunji Myungbyeom added, "We will have to wait and see if the heat continues after the pressure system is re-stabilized or if cooler air from the north lowers the temperature."