Typhoon Saomai likely to drench nation

Under the influence of the powerful Typhoon Saomai, the year¡¯s 14th typhoon, which is moving northward in the West Sea, the entire nation has been hit with strong winds and heavy rains, as of September 14.

The Korean Meteorological Administration reported that the typhoon was slightly changing its course toward northeast and was expected to veer into the West Sea, and continue to move toward the northeast, then will race through China and Manchuria.

However, the KMA said, there is the possibility that the typhoon will pass through the Korean peninsula.

With the central atmospheric pressure of 660 hpa and the maximum wind speeds of 36 meters per second, this A-grade typhoon is about 580 kilometers southwest of Soguipo, Jeju Island, and moving slowly northward, the weather bureau said.

The KMA predicted that the typhoon would reach about 200 kilometers south of Soguipo in the afternoon of September 15.

As a result, the entire Cheju Island and southern and central part of the peninsula will successively undergo the direct influence of the typhoon starting on September 15, and then the entire country will endure the typhoon¡¯s span with strong winds and torrential rains, the weathermen forecast. The nation will see clear skies from September 17, they added.

Meanwhile, due to Saomai, 268.5 millimeters of rains fell in Sanchon, Gyeongnam, from Sept. 14 to 11 a. m. today, and most parts of the country received 30 to 268.5 millimeters of rainfall. On September 15 alone, 50-100 millimeters of rain will fall in the Yongnam region and 60-130 millimeters in other parts of the nation, the KMA forecast.