The wildfire that occurred in the Gyeongbuk region spread successively to Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok. The wind blowing from the south to the north and from the west to the east has determined the wildfire's movement path. In the future, the spread of the wildfire may change depending on the wind direction.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 26th, a high-pressure system is positioned in the south and a low-pressure system in the west. Winds are blowing from the west between the high pressures in the south and the low pressures in the north. The winds from the west are moving eastward over the Taebaek mountain range and the Baekdudaegan. It is anticipated that the wind will gradually change direction and blow from the northwest starting on the morning of the 28th.
A Korea Forest Service official noted, "The wildfire that started in Uiseong has shown a pattern of moving northeast so far," and added, "If the wind blows from the northwest on the 28th, there is a concern that the wildfire may move southeast." Previously, on the 22nd, a wildfire that occurred in Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, spread to Andong on the 24th, riding on winds blowing from the south to the north. On the 25th, winds blew from the west to the east, and the wildfire moved to Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok.
The 'valley wind' blowing from the valley to the mountaintop is also affecting the wildfire. Currently, winds are generally blowing from the west in the country, but localized valley winds are also occurring due to the mountainous terrain. A Korea Forest Service official stated, "A large volume of wind is rushing through the narrow valley between the mountain ranges, causing the valley wind to quickly rise to the mountaintop."
The wildfire is reaching the mountaintop by riding the valley wind and sending embers flying here and there. When the valley wind rises along the mountain range and encounters winds moving in the same direction, the embers can travel further. If it meets winds moving in different directions, the embers may jump unpredictably. A Korea Meteorological Administration official said, "When the northwesterly wind meets the valley wind, it can collide and twist around the mountain range, changing the wind direction in several ways," adding, "In such cases, it is difficult to predict the direction in which the wildfire will spread."
To extinguish the wildfire, there needs to be no wind, and it should rain heavily. Rain is expected to fall in the wildfire-affected areas on the 27th, with amounts ranging from 5 to 10 mm. However, the rain may be weak, and as the atmosphere is dry in the wildfire areas, moisture can easily evaporate. A Korea Meteorological Administration official noted, "(After the 28th) there is no forecasted rain for the time being."
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, winds are currently blowing strongly at around 20 meters per second in momentary gusts. A Korea Forest Service official remarked, "The forest has many combustible materials (such as trees), and with strong winds, smoke and heat may intensify, making it difficult to secure visibility and access for firefighting efforts."
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that as of 4 p.m. that day, 24 people had died due to the wildfire, according to preliminary counts. Around 12:50 p.m. that day, a firefighting helicopter crashed in Uiseong, resulting in the death of one pilot.