Why doesn’t the heat we feel easily fade even when rain is forecast?
Does the statement that a typhoon will not directly reach the Korean Peninsula mean there will be no effects from rain and wind as well?
The key to understanding this weather is the edge of the North Pacific High.
3-Line Summary
1. The edge of a high-pressure system brings both rain and heat
2. Apparent temperatures are around 35°C in some areas
3. Check the typhoon track and rain forecast separately
Warm, Humid Air Still Flows In Even When There Are Rain Clouds
High pressure may sound like a term that means only clear, hot weather, but this time it is not that simple. As South Korea has been positioned along the edge of the North Pacific High, warm, humid air has continued to flow in, and rain clouds and shower clouds have also developed along that flow. This is why rainfall does not immediately bring cooler conditions.
Top Star News reported that rain or showers could continue nationwide from the 28th through the 30th. Even during periods of rain, gusty winds, thunder and lightning, and heavy rainfall of 20–30 mm per hour may occur, while some areas were also identified as having the possibility of more than 50 mm per hour. Even within the same weather region, showers can produce large neighborhood-to-neighborhood differences in rainfall amounts.
Rather than setting plans based only on the amount of rain, it is better to check the latest weather information again before leaving. In particular, visibility can be reduced and roads may become slippery during heavy rain, so drivers should leave more following distance than usual and reduce their speed. It is also difficult to assume that the danger has disappeared simply because the rain has temporarily stopped.
Apparent Temperatures Around 35°C Are a Separate Threshold From Rain
The figure that deserves more attention in this pattern is not rainfall, but apparent temperature. Top Star News reported that the highest apparent temperature could rise to around 33°C in most parts of the country on the 28th and mainly in southern regions on the 29th and 30th, with some southern areas possibly reaching around 35°C.
Apparent temperature is a measure of the heat people feel that adds the effect of humidity to air temperature. Therefore, even under cloudy skies and with rain, high humidity can keep the heat felt by the body lingering. It is also important to note that it may feel hotter in places exposed to heat—such as rice fields, roads, and outdoor work sites—than at actual observation points.
At such times, it is practical to reduce strenuous outdoor activity during the middle of the day and secure water and shade or an air-conditioned space for rest in advance. Infants and young children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses may need to reduce the time they spend outside and in outdoor activities. Where temperatures do not drop sufficiently even at night, lowering the intensity of the following day’s activities can be helpful.
High Pressure That Blocked the Typhoon Can Become a Moisture Pathway for the South
SBS forecast that the 18th typhoon, Saudel, would likely be unable to reach South Korea because it was blocked by the North Pacific High. In this report, the high-pressure system serves to block the typhoon’s direct path. However, this does not mean that South Korea’s weather becomes unrelated to the typhoon.
According to SBS’s explanation, if southerly winds develop between the circulation around the typhoon and the circulation of the North Pacific High, moisture from the south can be drawn toward the southern coast. As a result, even if the typhoon itself does not make direct landfall, a pattern can form in which rain is expected in South Gyeongsang, South Jeolla, and Jeju Island. If the positions of the typhoon and the high-pressure system change together, rainfall patterns may also change.
The most practical takeaway from this announcement is not, “The typhoon has passed us by, so it is fine.” Heat waves, showers, and ocean swells should be checked as separate risks. If you plan to go to the coast or out to sea, it is safer to separately check information on high waves and strong winds; if you have outdoor plans, check apparent temperatures and hourly precipitation information separately.
Guidelines for Reading the Next Announcement
It is difficult to draw a conclusion from news about high pressure based on a single figure or sentence. The meaning becomes clearer when you distinguish who made the announcement, whether it refers to something already implemented or a future plan, and whether the target and timing are specified.
Even within the same material, an explanation of necessity, discussion, an implementation plan, and actual implementation may represent different stages. Even if the scale of an announcement appears large, you should also check what it targets and what procedures remain so as not to overstate or understate the current situation.
In the next update, compare whether a new announcement repeats existing information or whether the target, schedule, or implementation status has actually changed. Reviewing the related reports below can also help identify differences in wording that may be easy to miss from the headline alone.
References
Tags #HighPressure #NorthPacificHigh #Weather #HeatWave #ApparentTemperature #Showers #HeavyRain #TyphoonSaudel #TyphoonTrack #TropicalNights #SouthernRegions #JejuWeather