`Rainy Season` Forecast to Be Dropped Next Year

The term “jangma,” or rainy season, will be dropped by weather forecasters from next year.

“Use of the term has become meaningless in the wake of the increasing number of rainy days due to phenomena such as regional torrential rains, even after the rainy season ends,” the Korea Meteorological Administration said yesterday.

The weather bureau used to report both the start and end of jangma every May, but did not report the end of the rainy season this year.

Due to global warming, Korea has experienced regional rainfall and rain influenced by a range of weather factors such as typhoons, unstable atmospheric conditions and a trough of low pressure.

Contrary to the weather agency’s prediction that the rainy season would finish July 25, more rain fell after the period ended.

Certain meteorologists and experts say there is hardly any advantage of distinguishing the rainy season, which stems from unstable atmospheric conditions.

“People believe the summer spells are jangma, but in meteorology, jangma refers to heavy rains caused by the monsoonal front,” the weather agency said. “It will rather cause more confusion if only meteorological jangma is announced.”

Data on jangma will still be collected but only for academic purposes.

pen@donga.com