'250mm Water Bomb' Strikes at Dawn… Landslide Warnings Issued for Chungnam West Coast and Southern Regions

- Up to 250mm torrential rain on Chungnam west coast, 200mm+ in Chungcheong… 50–80mm per hour concentrated during dawn hours
- Boseong, Jeonnam records 110mm per hour… Landslide crisis alert upgraded to 'Caution' level across Chungcheong, Honam, and Gyeongnam
- Rain continues until night of the 31st in the south and morning of the 1st in the central region… Seoul daytime high 26 degrees Celsius, southern apparent temperature 33 degrees sweltering heat
- Emergency preparedness for retaining wall collapses and low-lying area flooding due to night torrential rain concentrated during vulnerable hours

Torrential rains exceeding 250mm are pouring mainly along the west coast of Chungnam and the southern regions. Amid landslide crisis alerts, heavy rains of up to 80mm per hour are concentrated during the vulnerable dawn hours when defenses are weak.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this rain will expand to most parts of the country through the 31st and into the 1st. Over 250mm of rain is expected on the west coast of Chungnam, with more than 200mm in other parts of the Chungcheong region. Southern Gyeonggi, southern Gangwon, and northwestern Jeonbuk will also record precipitation of 120 to over 150mm. In particular, rainfall will heavily concentrate during dawn hours with over 80mm per hour on the Chungnam west coast, and around 20 to 50mm per hour in other areas.

The southern regions are already on high alert due to localized downpours. Boseong-gun, Jeonnam recorded over 110mm of rain per hour, leading to expanded heavy rain advisories. As wide rain clouds formed, the Korea Forest Service issued a 'Caution' stage landslide crisis alert for the Chungcheong, Honam, and Gyeongnam regions. On the other hand, the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon region are showing a temporary lull.

The intense scorching heat is subsiding as the rain falls. On the morning of the 31st, lowest temperatures start at 23 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Daejeon, and 24 degrees in Jeonju. Daytime highs will be 26 degrees in Seoul and 27 degrees in Daejeon, about 2 degrees lower than average years. In some southern regions and Jeju where heatwave warnings remain in effect, apparent temperatures will rise to around 33 degrees Celsius, with Gwangju reaching a daytime high of 32 degrees.

This rain is expected to stop by the night of the 31st in the southern regions, while continuing until the morning of Tuesday the 1st in the central regions.