Heavy downpours pound central region for 2nd day

Heavy rain fell in the Seoul metropolitan area on Wednesday, flooding the ramp at Gayang Bridge in Seoul. Yonhap

Some parts of the nation's central region were expected to be pounded by heavy downpours for the second day Thursday, with the broader Seoul area expected to receive up to 70 millimeters of rain per hour, the weather agency said.

As of 7 a.m., downpours of 10-40 millimeters per hour hit the wider capital area, inner parts of Gangwon Province and the western coast of South Chungcheong Province, coupled with strong winds and lightning, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Rainclouds formed in the West Sea are expected to continue to move into the peninsula, with the broader Seoul area forecast to receive 30-70 millimeters of rain per hour this morning.

While rain is forecast to subside in the afternoon, the KMA forecast 50-150 millimeters of rain in the greater capital Thursday, with some parts expected to receive more than 180 millimeters of downpours.

From Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday, 313.7 mm of rain fell across the northern city of Paju; 266.5 millimeters in Gimpo, just west of Seoul; and 260 millimeters in Seoul's northern ward of Dobong.

Heavy rains in the capital area left three killed Wednesday, with the central disaster headquarters raising its emergency response posture to Level 2.