For the first time in 7 years, no typhoons have been recorded in South Korea

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

Typhoon Khanun in 2023 caused flooding and forced the evacuation of approximately 14,000 people, and Typhoon Hinnamnor in 2022 caused 14 deaths and 6 injuries, as well as causing property damage worth 244 billion won (234 million Australian dollars) .

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

Asked why typhoons did not hit Korea this year, KMA told The Korea Herald it was due to a high pressure system in the North Pacific that caused extreme heat in August.

“Convective activity has been higher than usual near the Pacific Northwest in the Philippines this year, and as a result, a hot and humid high-pressure system in the North Pacific at low and mid-levels of the atmosphere has developed over Korea larger and longer than usual,” he said. KMA official Woo Jin-kyu. “The typhoons were unable to pass through this high pressure system, which caused them to head towards China instead.”

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

While the focus was on whether this powerful typhoon would also hit Korea, KMA stated during a press conference on October 31 that Typhoon Kong-rey would weaken before approaching the Korean Peninsula, without having a major impact on the country.

KMA says the typhoon will quickly weaken into an extratropical cyclone between November 1 and 2 before it passes the southern coast of Jeju Island. However, due to the moisture and rain clouds associated with the extratropical cyclone, heavy rains will be concentrated over southern parts of the country from the evening of November 1 to November 2.

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

Jeju Island is expected to receive between 50 mm and 150 mm of rainfall by November 2, and up to 250 mm in the hardest-hit regions. KMA added that Jeju Island will also experience strong winds accompanied by thunder and lightning during this period.

Rainfall of up to 60 mm is expected in the southern parts of South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces, as well as in Busan and Ulsan until November 2. Rainfall is expected to end on the evening of November 2, with a chance of rain in the eastern coastal region of Gangwon Province due to easterly winds. KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK