Heavy rain warnings were issued Saturday for coastal areas including Gangneung and Donghae, while sweltering heat continued west of the Taebaek mountain range.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said it would activate a heavy rain warning for the flatlands of Samcheok effective 10 a.m. Saturday.
A heavy rain warning is issued when rainfall is expected to exceed 90 millimeters over three hours or 180 millimeters over 12 hours. Residents are advised to avoid going out or driving and to exercise caution near rivers and streams. Heavy rain warnings were already in effect for the flatlands of Gangneung and Donghae.
Rain was expected to begin falling over the eastern coastal and northeastern mountain areas of North Gyeongsang Province in the morning, and over the mountain and mid-mountain areas of Jeju later in the morning.
The rain is forecast to spread to the remaining parts of Jeju and South Gyeongsang Province by early Sunday and continue through the night. Some areas along Gangwon Province's east coast and inland mountains, the northern east coast of North Gyeongsang Province, and Jeju could see rain continuing through Monday morning.
Total expected rainfall is 50 to 100 millimeters — with more than 150 millimeters in some areas — along Gangwon Province's east coast and mountains; 30 to 80 millimeters, with more than 120 millimeters in some spots, along the northern east coast and northeastern mountains of North Gyeongsang Province; 20 to 70 millimeters over Jeju's mountain and mid-mountain zones; 20 to 60 millimeters along the southern east coast of North Gyeongsang Province; 5 to 40 millimeters for Busan, Ulsan, central and eastern inland areas of South Gyeongsang Province, and Ulleungdo and Dokdo; and 5 to 30 millimeters along the Jeju coast.
While the most extreme heat has passed, scorching temperatures are set to persist across much of the country.
The Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heat wave warning for the flatlands of Cheongsong and Bonghwa effective 11 a.m. Saturday. Such warnings are issued when the apparent temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius for two or more consecutive days or when severe heat-related damage is anticipated. Heat wave warnings were already in effect in Gumi and eight other locations.
As of 8 a.m., temperatures in major cities had already reached or were approaching 30 degrees Celsius — Incheon at 31.2, Busan at 31.0, Daejeon at 30.7, Seoul at 30.5, Gwangju at 29.5, and Daegu and Ulsan at 28.9.
Afternoon highs were forecast to reach 36 degrees in Daejeon, 35 degrees in Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju and Daegu, and 33 degrees in Ulsan and Busan. Sunday is also expected to be hot, with morning lows of 21 to 26 degrees and afternoon highs of 26 to 35 degrees.
sjpark@heraldcorp.com
