Downpour to dump a total 650mm on capital


The northern areas of the country are expected to see another 250 millimeters of rain up until Friday, raising concerns of further flood damage, according to the country’s weather service on Wednesday.

According to the Korean Meteorological Administration, most areas throughout Seoul, Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong and Gangwon Provinces are expected to see 50 to 150 millimeters, with 250 millimeters of rain in the worst affected areas.

Heavy rainfall, averaging roughly 60 millimeters an hour, with strong gusts accompanying thunder and lightning will continue until Thursday morning, said the KMA.

The torrential downpours over the peninsula started Tuesday afternoon. As of Wednesday afternoon, Seoul has seen more than 400 millimeters of rain, triggering flash floods and landslides throughout the city.

Other hard-hit regions in Gyeonggi Province include Gwangneung with 392 millimeters, Uijeongbu with 363 millimeters, Namyangju with 329 millimeters and Dongducheon with 262 millimeters, as of Wednesday afternoon.

If Seoul sees more than 250 millimeters of rainfall, as forecasted, through Friday, it will have seen a little less than half of the yearly rainfall in four days.

Adding the 700 millimeters of rain since June, the capital will have seen a year’s worth of rain in roughly a month.

However, the KMA forecasts that the rain will subside from Friday morning, as the North Pacific high-pressure system begins to contract, bringing the rain clouds south along with it.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)