A cold front is bringing heavy rain and strong winds across South Korea today, with warnings issued for the southern coast and Jeju.
This sudden shift in weather follows a recent heat wave, creating a volatile atmospheric environment that could lead to flooding and temperature instability. Residents are being urged to prepare for a significant drop in temperature and high precipitation levels through Thursday [1, 2].
Heavy-rain warnings are currently in effect for the southern coast and the mountainous regions of Jeju [1, 3]. Meteorologists forecast that some areas, including the central West Sea, inland Gangwon, and Jeju's mountains, could receive between 100 and 150 mm of rain [2]. Other regions are expected to see rainfall ranging from 60 to 80 mm [2].
In some locations, the rain is expected to be particularly intense, with hourly rates reaching 20 to 30 mm [2]. The weather system is also affecting the southern coast, specifically eastern South Jeolla and western South Gyeongsang, as well as the northern and central West Sea [1, 3].
The arrival of the cold front has caused temperatures to plummet. In Seoul, the temperature was reported between 15.8 °C and 15.9 °C [1, 2]. This represents a drop of about 10 °C compared to the same time on the previous day [1].
"Many areas are already seeing rain on the way to work," a caster said [1]. A weather reporter said that because the temperature in Seoul is lower than it was this morning, residents should use outer clothing to regulate their body temperature [2].
The rain and wind are forecast to continue through May 21 [1, 2].
“Some areas could receive between 100 and 150 mm of rain.”
The rapid transition from a heat wave to a cold front increases the risk of severe weather instability. The combination of high hourly rainfall rates and a sharp temperature drop can lead to immediate infrastructure strain and public health concerns, particularly for those unprepared for the sudden cooling.
