Severe Rainstorms Hit South Korea as Warm Sea Surface Temperatures Intensify Weather Systems

South Korea is preparing for severe weather this week as heavy downpours are forecast to bring more than 200mm of rainfall to central and northern regions. The impending conditions follow previous heavy rain that impacted several areas earlier in the month. South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook met with officials to coordinate response efforts ahead of the expected precipitation.

Yellow Sea Temperatures Fuel Korean Storms

The impending weather is driven by a series of intense thunderstorms originating over the Yellow Sea, located to the west of South Korea. The storm systems are expected to move slowly eastward through Monday before tapering off on Tuesday. Meteorologists report that the storms have been intensified by unusually warm waters in the Yellow Sea, where sea surface temperatures have reached 29C, which is 4C above the climatological average.

Monsoon Conditions and Pacific Tropical Activity

Elsewhere in Asia, Thailand remains under warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall during the midpoint of its May-to-October monsoon season. In the Philippines, prolonged rainfall throughout August prompted officials to declare a state of calamity in the province of Tarlac.

Activity in the north Pacific remains elevated. Following Typhoon Bang-lang and Tropical Storm Etau—both of which tracked northward last week without making landfall—two additional weather systems near the Philippines and China currently hold a medium to high probability of developing into tropical cyclones. Systems must attain sustained wind speeds of 39mph (63km/h) to reach tropical cyclone status.

In the eastern north Pacific, Karina has strengthened into a category 1 hurricane and is projected to pass north of Hawaii without reaching land. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lowell is forecast to intensify into a hurricane on Tuesday as it tracks just south of Hawaii.

Late-Summer Heat Wave Forecast for Southern Europe

Following a record-breaking summer, high temperatures are expected to persist across parts of Europe entering September. Midweek heat is forecast to build across central and southern Europe, pushing local temperatures up to 10C above average. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, weekend temperatures could approach 40C, near the national record high of 43.1C set in 2007.