Seoul, May 16
Heavier-than-expected rainfall hit the greater South Korea's Seoul area on Friday, prompting the year's first emergency text alert for heavy rain to be sent via mobile phones to residents in parts of the region.
At around 4:30 p.m., residents of Onam-eup in Namyangju, about 25 kilometres east of Seoul, received an emergency text message warning of torrential rain after the area recorded 74 millimetres of rainfall in just one hour.
The Korea Meteorological Administration issues such alerts when hourly rainfall exceeds 50 mm and three-hour cumulative rainfall tops 90 mm, or when one-hour rainfall alone surpasses 72 mm.
Eighteen streams in Seoul, including Cheonggye Stream and Anyang Stream, were closed to the public due to torrential downpours, according to Seoul city officials.
Rain also caused traffic congestion on major roads during the evening rush hour.
Weather officials said the heavy rain was likely caused by a mix of cold air lingering in the upper atmosphere over Seoul and warm, humid air flowing into the lower atmosphere due to a low-pressure system passing south of the peninsula, news agency reported.