The Korea meteorological Administration is pushing a plan to send a "disaster-level heavy rain emergency alert" when "extreme downpours" of 100 millimeters an hour hit. Until now, alerts were sent only when hourly rainfall exceeded 50 millimeters and, at the same time, three-hour rainfall exceeded 90 millimeters. The agency said it would provide separate guidance to help evacuations if conditions worsen beyond that.
On Dec. 18, the Korea meteorological Administration said in its plan for next year's key policies that it is reviewing sending disaster-level heavy rain emergency alerts when "hourly rainfall is at least 100 millimeters," or when "hourly rainfall is at least 80 millimeters and 15-minute rainfall is at least 20 millimeters." Extreme downpours with hourly rainfall of at least 100 millimeters occurred fairly often recently, 16 times last year and 15 times this year.
A "severe heat warning" will also be newly introduced. The agency is considering issuing the severe heat warning when "the day's maximum heat index is expected to be 38 degrees or higher for one or two days." Previously, a heat advisory and a heat warning were issued when "the day's maximum heat index is 33 degrees or higher" and "35 degrees or higher," respectively, for two or more consecutive days, but the plan is to add a stronger tier.
It will also provide forecasts for solar radiation and wind speed. It said it will post information in 10-minute intervals "for the next three hours" and in hourly intervals "for the next two days" on the Renewable Energy Platform and the Korea meteorological Administration website. In particular, it will offer summary information such as "Clouds will pass over area OO today, and solar radiation is expected to decrease by 50% from yesterday," so renewable energy generators can easily understand the forecasts.
To prepare for Japan's "Nankai megathrust earthquake," it plans to expand the overseas earthquake early warning coverage to include the Nankai Trough area in Japan (around longitude 136 degrees). In addition, the Korea meteorological Administration will provide ▲integrated meteorological drought information and ▲a three-month sea surface temperature outlook service, and it will develop a ▲national climate prediction system that forecasts climate up to 10 years ahead.