Up to 150 mm of rain to hit nationwide

By Park Si-soo

Up to 150 mm of rain is expected to slam Seoul and other regions of the country Monday with thunderstorms and extreme wind gusts, as the peninsula slips into the annual monsoon season, the state weather agency said Sunday.

A heavy rain warning was issued for hard-hit areas, said the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), calling on people to stay informed about the latest weather information.

Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, the eastern part of Gangwon Province and islands in the West Sea will see major downpours. Southern regions are forecast to have a less but risky level of precipitation of around 80 mm.

“Landslides or collapse of walls or fences could happen in areas soaked with water,” said a KMA official. “Those living in these regions should evacuate to safe areas.” The agency also urged people living in low-lying areas, camping near rivers or water-front areas to evacuate to higher ground.

The downpour in Seoul is forecast to stop Monday night and Gyeonggi and other central regions Tuesday morning.