By Lee Hyo-sik
Seoul and its surrounding areas will receive up to 30 millimeters of rain between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Tuesday.
Up to 30 millimeters of precipitation accompanied by lightning and thunder will swamp Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces through Thursday morning. The southern region will be mostly cloudy with occasional showers.
Continuing on to the weekend more downpours are forecast as typhoon Muifa, which is expected to make landfall in Shanghai late Saturday, will likely bring more rain to the entire peninsula.
Jeju Island will likely feel the effects of the northward-moving typhoon from Saturday, receiving substantial rainfalls.
``Muifa is forecast to reach the Chinese mainland this weekend if it continues to move on its current course. Even if the typhoon does not land on the Korean Peninsula, it will bring lots of rain across the country through next Monday,’’ a KMA official said.
The official raised the possibility that the typhoon could change its course and pass through the West Sea.
``In this case, the nation will most likely sustain heavier damage. People should take all possible preventive measures to minimize casualties and property damage. In particular, we advise vacationers to stay updated on the latest weather information,’’ he said.
Last week, the nation’s central region was bombarded with heavy downpours, with Seoul receiving nearly 590 millimeters of rain between July 26 and 28. The amount is equivalent to over 40 percent of the capital city’s average annual precipitation.
The torrential rain caused multiple landslides in southern Seoul, killing more than a dozen and destroying homes, buildings, vehicles and other property. In other areas, several cities were inundated by overflowing nearby rivers.