No typhoons recorded in South Korea for the first time in 7 years

For the first time since 2017, South Korea did not experience a typhoon landfall this summer, a stark contrast to the powerful storms that hit the country in the past two years, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said on Nov 1.

In 2023, Typhoon Khanun caused floods and forced some 14,000 people to evacuate, and Typhoon Hinnamnor in 2022 caused 14 casualties and six injuries, as well as 244 billion won (S$234 million) in property damages.

In contrast, Typhoon Krathon approached South Korea from the Philippines with strength similar to Typhoon Kong-rey on Oct 3, but lost momentum near Taiwan’s coast before weakening into a tropical depression.

When asked why typhoons did not strike the country in 2024, the KMA told The Korea Herald that it was due to the North Pacific high pressure system that caused extreme heat in August.

“The convection activity was higher than usual in 2024 near the northwest Pacific of the Philippines, resulting the hot, humid North Pacific high pressure system in the low to mid-levels of the atmosphere to develop bigger and longer than usual above Korea,” said KMA official Woo Jin-kyu.

“The typhoons were unable to go through this high pressure system, which resulted in them moving toward China instead.”

According to KMA, Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in Taiwan on Oct 31. The typhoon, recorded as the most powerful typhoon to hit Taiwan in 28 years, killed at least two people and injured more than 500 as at Nov 1.

While all eyes were set on whether it would hit Korea, the KMA said on Oct 31 that Typhoon Kong-rey would weaken before approaching the Korean peninsula without posing a big impact on the country.

The KMA said the typhoon would quickly weaken to an extratropical cyclone between Nov 1 and Nov 2 before passing the southern coast of Jeju Island.

But due to moisture and rain clouds associated with the extratropical cyclone, heavy rain will be focused on the southern parts of the country starting on Nov 1 evening until Nov 2.

As the moist air from the typhoon is expected to collide with the cool air blowing into Korea from the northwest, rain clouds will be formed over the southern area resulting in rainfall of up to 30mm per hour.

Jeju Island is expected to between 50mm and 150mm of rainfall through Nov 2, with heavily hit regions expecting to see up to 250mm.

The KMA added that Jeju Island will see strong winds, accompanied by thunder and lightning during this time period.

Up to 60mm of rain can be expected in southern parts of South Jeolla Province, South Gyeongsang Province as well as Busan and Ulsan until Nov 2.

While rain is expected to stop from Nov 2 evening, there is a possibility of rain in the east coast region of Gangwon Province due to easterly winds. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK