Typhoon Babi created a tropical moisture corridor that triggered torrential rains and extreme heat across South Korea on Wednesday [1, 2].
This weather pattern demonstrates how weakening tropical systems can amplify extreme conditions even after their primary strength fades, creating simultaneous crises of flooding and heatwaves across different regions.
Heavy rainfall struck the mid-north regions during the night of July 14 and into July 15 [1, 2]. In Seoul’s northern district, rainfall exceeded 130 mm [1]. Similar conditions hit Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, where rainfall also exceeded 100 mm [1].
Local reports indicated that hourly rainfall intensity reached approximately 50 mm per hour [1]. The storm's impact included wind gusts of approximately 25 m/s, which are considered typhoon-strength gusts [1].
While the north faced flooding, the southeast experienced a severe heatwave. In Gyeongsangbuk-do, maximum temperatures rose to over 35 °C [1, 2]. This extreme heat coincided with the Chobok period, a traditional marker of the peak of summer in Korea.
Experts said the moisture corridor opened by the typhoon amplified these extreme weather conditions [1]. The interaction between the storm's remnants and local atmospheric pressure created a volatile environment that pushed temperatures and precipitation to extremes.
"Last night, a water bomb poured down on the mid-north, and during the day, the Chobok heat exceeding 35 degrees continued, centered on the Gyeongbuk region," an YTN anchor said [1].
“Rainfall in Seoul’s northern district exceeded 130 mm”
The simultaneous occurrence of a heatwave in the southeast and torrential rain in the north highlights the complexity of 'moisture corridors.' When a typhoon weakens, it does not always mean the danger has passed; instead, the system can redistribute tropical moisture and heat, intensifying local weather extremes and complicating emergency response efforts across different provinces.
