Triple typhoon brews in Pacific, bringing weekend rain to South Korea
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Typhoon Mitag, Typhoon Ragasa and Typhoon Neoguri have formed in sequence from a tropical depression near the Korean peninsula.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
South Korea is expected to see rain throughout the weekend as three tropical depressions in the north-west Pacific developed into typhoons, the state weather agency said on Sept 19.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Typhoon Mitag, Typhoon Ragasa and Typhoon Neoguri have formed in sequence from a tropical depression into a typhoon near the Korean peninsula on Sept 18.
While none of the three typhoons are currently forecast to directly impact the Korean peninsula, forecasters warned that their paths and intensity could still shift depending on changes in the North Pacific high-pressure system and surrounding conditions.
Typhoon Mitag is relatively weak in strength and is currently moving towards Hong Kong. It is expected to weaken into a low-pressure trough by Sept 20. Typhoon Neoguri is moving towards the eastern coast of Japan and is expected to move out into the ocean from Sept 21.
Typhoon Ragasa, however, has intensified into a Category 3 storm – which is labelled as a storm with maximum sustained winds of 178kmh to 208kmh by KMA – and is expected to become one of the strongest typhoons so far in 2025. Its projected path could impact areas stretching from northern parts of the Philippines to southern parts of Taiwan and China, including Hong Kong.
Though there is a chance for Typhoon Ragasa to shift its projected path and move towards the Korean peninsula, KMA stated that such chances are small. However, it added that it was keeping a close watch on the possibility of additional typhoons forming in the future.
“The high sea temperatures of waters surrounding Korea create favourable conditions for the formation of tropical disturbances, or the seed of a typhoon,” KMA meteorologist Lee Chang-jae told the press at a press briefing on Sept 19. “Depending on whether these disturbances develop and the paths they take afterward, there could be significant variability in rainfall throughout the upcoming season.”
Meanwhile, as the three typhoons make their moves around the Korean peninsula, rain is forecast nationwide from the night of Sept 19 to Sept 20, with the eastern coastal areas in Gangwon province expected to see rainfall until the morning of Sept 21.
Localised downpours ranging between 20mm and 30mm per hour can be expected nationwide on Sept 20, with hourly rainfall ranging between 30mm and 50mm expected in South Chungcheong province and western parts of North Jeolla province. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
