As the three-day Liberation Day holiday beginning August 15th kicks off, poor weather across the country is putting a damper on plans. This rain started as the powerful moisture left behind by Typhoon Dolphin—the 13th typhoon of the season, which dissipated after making landfall in China—developed into a low-pressure system and flowed into the Korean Peninsula. This is why people who had planned outdoor activities or trips for the holiday are anxiously checking real-time weather updates.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this rain is expected to bring heavy downpours of up to 150 to 200mm to Jeju Island, the southern coast, and the Jirisan mountain area. In particular, strong inflows of warm, humid southwesterly winds are causing intense rain of 30 to 50mm per hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, mainly in the southern provinces. Central regions, including Seoul, are also expected to come under the full influence of the rain clouds starting on the 16th, the second day of the holiday, spreading the rain nationwide.

This heavy rainfall has two faces: it is both a solution for drought and a safety concern. While it provides precious rain to soak the parched land in southern regions that have been suffering from extreme midsummer drought, it has become a perplexing variable for the tourism industry and travelers who were looking forward to the holiday peak. Since valley water levels can rise rapidly and strong swells can hit the coast, it is necessary to exercise caution and frequently check real-time weather advisories when planning outdoor activities.

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