Clouds forecast for May 1

Cloudy weather nationwide and showers in the middle part of the Korean peninsula have been forecast for Buddha`s Birthday and May Day on Tuesday.

The Korean Meteorological Administration forecast Monday that some 5-10 mm of rain would fall in the Kangwon and Yongdong areas, but less than 1 mm of rain would fall in the Seoul and Kyonggi areas. It added that considerable rain would fall in late May so that the current drought could be alleviated.

On May 1, the maximum temperature in Seoul will reach 24 degrees Centigrade, a few degrees lower than the previous day. People will still be able to enjoy their outings and will be shielded from the sun by clouds.

Meanwhile, the severe drought is expected to persist into May.

The precipitation for Seoul during the March-April period recorded less than 25 percent of the average, while that for Kyongbuk Province and central areas of the country marked 10-15 percent of that in normal years. The rains that fell on Apr. 29-30 in Cholla Province only reached some 30-40 percent of the average.

The weathermen said that a spring drought is a common phenomenon in Korea, but that this year rainfall is very scarce owing to high atmospheric pressure with accompanying high temperatures and dry air. They added that Korea will see some rains in early May, but a dry spell will occur again in the middle of the month. In the latter part of May, an average amount of rainfall is expected.

Kim Joon-Seok kjs359@donga.com