The nation is set for a hotter than usual summer with more rain but fewer typhoons, the national weather agency said Thursday.

In its three-month forecast, the Korea Meteorological Administration predicted bright summer days with higher than normal temperatures till until-June, followed by a monsoon season near the end of the month.

July will have a lot of rain, particularly in the Gyeonggi, Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces, it said.

Sizzling heat will then grip the country from late July through August, with mid day highs forecast to reach well beyond 30 degrees Celsius. Torrential rain is expected, pushing total precipitation for the month slightly higher than normal.

Nine to 11 typhoons are likely to be formed this season, with one or two hitting the Korean Peninsula. The annual average is 2.3 typhoons.

“Hot air from the Eurasian continent will affect the Korean Peninsula, leading to hotter than normal temperatures, particularly in June,” said Jung Jeong-seok, a KMO official said.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)