By Kim Se-jeong
Rainfall is expected in most parts of the country over the weekend as typhoon Halola approaches the peninsula, according to the national weather agency, Friday.
The Korea Meteorological Agency (KMA) said that Seoul, and Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces will see up to 150 millimeters of rainfall and the west coast, up to 120 millimeters, as Halola is expected to pass through the Korea Strait. Sunday.
Halola, moving at 12 kilometers per hour, is expected to be 340 kilometers off Japan’s southernmost island of Okinawa by Saturday afternoon.
It is the third typhoon to hit the peninsula this summer. Earlier, Chan-hom bombarded Jeju Island’s mountain region with 1,400 millimeters of rain, while Nangka killed two people and cancelled flight and cruise operations.
“The typhoon is coming toward Jeju and southern parts of the country,” a weather agent said. “It is moving a bit more westward than initially expected, meaning it could have an influence on the peninsula. Citizens are advised to keep monitoring weather information.”
The rain will come with thunder and lightning in some regions, the KMA said.
The Ministry of Public Safety and Security said it began emergency operations Thursday, monitoring the typhoon’s route and preparing to assist vulnerable areas.
In advance of the typhoon, Korea has been affected by a separate rain front since Wednesday.
As of Friday, Pocheon had 250 millimeters of rain, while Yeoncheon and Dongducheon had some 170 millimeters. In Gangwon Province, where a rain advisory was issued, Hwacheon had more than 240 millimeters of rainfall, followed by Yanggu, 210 millimeters; Cheorwon, 205 millimeters; Inje, 120 millimeters; and Goseong, 93 millimeters.
The government said the typhoons and the rain front have eased a water shortage of the country which has seen unprecedented low precipitation since spring. Dams in Gangwon Province released water Friday. Low precipitation worsened droughts in Gangwon and North Gyeongsang provinces and increased the algae level in rivers, threatening the quality of drinking water in cities.