The first wave of monsoon rains is expected to reach Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam on June 20, three days earlier than usual, following the early start of the rainy season in Jeju on June 12.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a stationary front will bring heavy rainfall to the Bu-Ul-Gyeong region beginning today, with rain expected to continue through June 24 and possibly beyond.
A similar weather pattern will spread nationwide, with rain reaching the central region on the night of the 19th.
Some areas may experience intense downpours, potentially triggering heavy rain warnings, which are issued when rainfall exceeds 90mm in three hours or 180mm in 12 hours. However, rainfall will likely vary significantly by location due to narrow north-south rainbands forming along the front.
Although the official start of the rainy season, known as Jangma in Korean, is typically declared after the fact, rain from stationary fronts is commonly treated as the onset of monsoon season.
This year’s monsoon is arriving early across the country, with central regions seeing rain five days ahead of schedule and Jeju starting a week early.
While daytime temperatures will remain near average, rising humidity will make conditions feel closer to 30°C during the day.
