Heavy rain to fall Saturday night, concentrated in central region
High temperatures 2 to 6 degrees Celsius warmer than the average in previous years are expected to persist from Friday until April 21 due to warm southwesterly winds blowing into South Korea, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Friday.
On Friday, average low temperatures nationwide ranged between 10 C and 16 C, while average highs ranged from 17 C to 29 C -- with Daegu in North Gyeongsang Province reaching 29 C.
Based on average temperatures between 1991 and 2020, Daegu typically reaches a high of 29 C around June 14, meaning Friday's heat came about two months earlier than usual.
Other major cities, including Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju and Ulsan, saw temperatures as high as 22 C, 26 C, 24 C and 25 C, respectively.
Friday's warm weather is expected to continue through the weekend and into Monday, with average lows expected to range between 4 C and 11 C and average highs between 17 C and 22 C.
The inland parts of North and South Chungcheong provinces and North and South Gyeongsang provinces are forecast to see daytime temperatures above 25 C, with inland parts of the Gyeongsang provinces seeing a 15-degree difference between day and night.
Asked about the unusually warm weather, the KMA explained it was “due to southwesterly winds blowing into the Korean Peninsula along the edge of a high-pressure system located over the seas south of Japan.”
However, the central region -- which consists of the Greater Seoul region, Gangwon Province and the North and South Chungcheong provinces -- can expect to see a bit of relief from the warm temperatures on Saturday, with rainfall concentrated on the region.
Rainfall is expected to begin during the day on Saturday in northern parts of Gyeonggi Province. By the afternoon, rain clouds will develop and expand across much of the central region and Jeju Island.
From Saturday evening into the night, rainfall will intensify in the central region as cold air from the north moves southward toward the Korean Peninsula.
On Saturday, the Greater Seoul region as well as inland and mountainous parts of Gangwon Province may see accumulated rainfall of 5 to 20 millimeters, while the Chungcheong provinces and Jeju Island may see 5 to 10 mm of accumulated rain.
The rain will gradually clear out by Sunday morning, as rain clouds are pushed southward by the advancing cold air.
The KMA added that rainfall will also be observed on Tuesday in some parts of Korea, including Seoul. After the rain, warm temperatures similar to the historical average will persist.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
