What weather is forecast for Korea over the long weekend?

Sudden showers are expected inland on Saturday, followed by rain nationwide over the next two days. The forecast is tied to a low pressure system moving in from Shanghai.

How severe is the drought in South Gyeongsang?

Southern parts of the country got 58.5 mm of rain from July 12 to Aug. 11, far below the 241.9 mm long-term average. South Gyeongsang, Busan and Ulsan received only 16.6 mm, and South Gyeongsang's reservoir storage rate was 32.3 percent.

What measures have authorities taken against the drought?

Authorities issued a national firefighting mobilization order for South Gyeongsang on Tuesday. They also deployed firefighting water tankers across the country to supply water to drought-hit areas.

Nationwide rain forecast for long weekend to bring relief to drought-hit south

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Summary

Rain is forecast across Korea over the upcoming three-day weekend, with nationwide rain expected to bring relief to drought-hit southern regions. The Korea Meteorological Administration said sudden showers may fall inland on Saturday before a low pressure system brings rain across the country over the next two days. Southern areas, especially South Gyeongsang, have seen very low rainfall and falling reservoir levels. Authorities have already issued a national firefighting mobilization order for the province and deployed water tankers.

Key Facts

Between July 12 and Aug. 11, southern parts of Korea received 58.5 millimeters of rain, about one-fourth of the long-term average of 241.9 mm for that period.
South Gyeongsang, Busan and Ulsan recorded just 16.6 mm of precipitation over the same period, the lowest level for that timeframe since 1973.
South Gyeongsang's reservoir water storage rate stood at 32.3 percent on Thursday, far below the long-term average of 70.8 percent.
The upcoming long weekend runs through Monday, an alternative holiday for Liberation Day, which falls on Saturday this year.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 13, 2026 3:17 pm KST

Clouds hang over the Seoul skyline, Sunday. Yonhap

Rain is forecast across Korea over the upcoming three-day weekend, the national weather agency said Thursday, likely bringing relief to southern regions suffering from a severe drought.

Sudden showers are forecast for inland parts of the country Saturday before nationwide rain over the next two days due to a low pressure system advancing from Shanghai, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The upcoming long weekend runs through Monday — an alternative holiday for Liberation Day, which falls on Saturday this year.

The forecast comes as southern parts of the country, especially the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang, have seen water storage levels drop due to low precipitation in recent months.

Between July 12 and Aug. 11, southern parts of the country received 58.5 millimeters of rain, roughly one-fourth of the long-term average of 241.9 mm over the cited period.

Precipitation in South Gyeongsang and the southeastern cities of Busan and Ulsan totaled just 16.6 mm over the period, marking the lowest level for the timeframe since 1973, when the country established a nationwide weather observation network.

South Gyeongsang's reservoir water storage rate stood at 32.3 percent on Thursday, far below the long-term average of 70.8 percent, according to the Rural Agricultural Water Resource Information System.

Authorities issued a national firefighting mobilization order for the province on Tuesday and have deployed firefighting water tankers across the nation to supply water to drought-hit areas.

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