Typhoon Chan-Hom, the 15th typhoon of the season, is expected to move through northeastern Japan and into the East Sea, raising hopes for alleviating drought while also raising concerns about heavy rainfall.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration and foreign news reports on August 10, Typhoon Chan-Hom is currently moving northwest at a speed of 25 km/h over the waters far east of Japan. It maintains a relatively weak intensity with a central pressure of 994 hPa and maximum wind speeds of 18 m/s.
Chan-Hom is projected to make landfall in Japan's Tohoku region between August 11 and 12 before moving into the open waters of the East Sea. During this process, the heat dome (high-pressure system) that has been pressing down on the Korean Peninsula is expected to shift slightly toward the Pacific, allowing the rain clouds carried by the typhoon to bring rainfall primarily to the eastern coast and the Yeongnam region.
Experts suggest that Chan-Hom, with its relatively weak winds, may serve as a 'beneficial typhoon' that could help alleviate the prolonged drought and heatwave.
However, experts caution that it is too early to relax. Even if the typhoon weakens, it could still make landfall on the Korean Peninsula as a tropical depression, carrying a large amount of moisture.
Weather specialists warn, "In a situation where the Northeast Asian pressure system is changing very complexly, if a moisture-laden low-pressure system combines with the Föhn effect (temperature and topographical influences due to the Föhn effect), there could be intense localized downpours along the East Coast." They point out that beneficial rain could quickly turn into flooding.
Attention should also be paid to the weather changes immediately after the typhoon passes. Around August 13 to 15, when Chan-Hom affects the Korean Peninsula, the high-pressure system that had been pushed away by the Okhotsk air mass is likely to return to the Korean Peninsula.
As a result, after a brief period of heavy rainfall, the heat dome is expected to re-form, leading to a resurgence of hot weather. The Korea Meteorological Administration and evacuation-related agencies have urged the public to pay close attention to the latest weather information and changes in the typhoon's path, especially during the busy travel period coinciding with the Japanese holiday (Obon) and vacation season.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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