By Nam Hyun-woo
Two typhoons could be heading toward the Korean Peninsula, the weather agency said Monday.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) though, Typhoons Francisco and Lekima will most likely hit Japan.
Typhoon Francisco was located some 1,750 kilometers southeast of Okinawa and packs winds gusts over 169 kilometers an hour.
The agency expected that it will head north, but may veer to the East Sea, making landfall near Tokyo. It said the typhoon may partially affect Korea with heavy rain and wind.
The KMA said Francisco has reached its strongest stage and will lose strength gradually once it makes landfall.
Typhoon Lekima was detected five days later. Though it was small-sized and weak, the KMA expected it may pick up strength and develop into a severe tropical storm (STS).
An STS is a typhoon having winds of more than 119 kilometers per hour at its center.
The KMA predicts Lekima will swerve eastward before it affects the peninsula, but said the two typhoons could meet.
"When two or more typhoons collide, they affect each other's path and strength. It's called the Fujiwara effect," said weather forecaster Hur Jin-ho.
"Though we are expecting that they are moving along their own paths, there still is the possibility that the two could change course," he said.
Korea has suffered relatively little damage from typhoons this year. Typhoon Danas hit the southern part of the country earlier this month, resulting in ships being anchored at ports, but caused no casualties.
"An average 25.6 typhoons hit or pass by the peninsula in a year. Though Korea recorded slightly more typhoons than the average figure last year, it is not unusual," said Hur. In 1970, the largest number of 36 typhoons hit the country.
Two typhoons could be heading toward the Korean Peninsula, the weather agency said Monday.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) though, Typhoons Francisco and Lekima will most likely hit Japan.
Typhoon Francisco was located some 1,750 kilometers southeast of Okinawa and packs winds gusts over 169 kilometers an hour.
The agency expected that it will head north, but may veer to the East Sea, making landfall near Tokyo. It said the typhoon may partially affect Korea with heavy rain and wind.
The KMA said Francisco has reached its strongest stage and will lose strength gradually once it makes landfall.
Typhoon Lekima was detected five days later. Though it was small-sized and weak, the KMA expected it may pick up strength and develop into a severe tropical storm (STS).
An STS is a typhoon having winds of more than 119 kilometers per hour at its center.
The KMA predicts Lekima will swerve eastward before it affects the peninsula, but said the two typhoons could meet.
"When two or more typhoons collide, they affect each other's path and strength. It's called the Fujiwara effect," said weather forecaster Hur Jin-ho.
"Though we are expecting that they are moving along their own paths, there still is the possibility that the two could change course," he said.
Korea has suffered relatively little damage from typhoons this year. Typhoon Danas hit the southern part of the country earlier this month, resulting in ships being anchored at ports, but caused no casualties.
"An average 25.6 typhoons hit or pass by the peninsula in a year. Though Korea recorded slightly more typhoons than the average figure last year, it is not unusual," said Hur. In 1970, the largest number of 36 typhoons hit the country.
