Geoje, South Korea, experienced record-breaking heavy rain this week with cumulative rainfall exceeding 900 mm [1].
The intensity of the storm marks the strongest precipitation event in the region since Typhoon Lusa in 2002 [1]. This level of rainfall poses significant risks to infrastructure and public safety in the southern coastal areas of Gyeongsangnam-do.
Local weather monitoring recorded a peak one-hour rainfall of 124.5 mm [1]. This measurement was taken at 2:32 a.m. [1]. According to reporting from YTN, this hourly total ranks as the fourth highest in the region's observation history [1].
Reporters on the ground described the event as "awl-like heavy rain," referring to the concentrated and piercing nature of the downpour. The weather system affected not only Geoje, but also nearby areas including Tongyeong and Goseong [1].
While the intensity of the rain reached historic levels, the severity of the official warnings has since shifted. A heavy rain warning previously issued for Geoje was lowered to a heavy rain advisory [1], Park So-jung said.
The cumulative total of more than 900 mm [1] highlights the extreme volume of water the region managed over the course of the event. The comparison to the 2002 typhoon underscores the rarity of such a high-volume weather event in the current observation period.
“Cumulative rainfall exceeded 900 mm”
The occurrence of rainfall levels not seen since 2002 suggests an increase in the intensity of localized weather events in South Korea's southern coast. When hourly rainfall reaches the top four of all-time records, it often exceeds the drainage capacity of urban infrastructure, increasing the likelihood of flash flooding regardless of the total cumulative volume.
