Scattered showers and heat expected across South Korea; coastal warnings issued

South Korea is bracing for a day of mixed weather on Friday, with scattered showers expected across the country alongside continued muggy conditions in several regions. Daytime high temperatures are forecast to range between 27 and 35 degrees Celsius, with morning lows between 20 and 24 degrees.

The capital, Seoul, along with Daejeon and Jeonju, will see peak temperatures of around 33 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Daegu and Gwangju could reach up to 34 degrees. The southern regions, including parts of the southern coast, and the Chungnam province are particularly expected to experience high 'feels-like' temperatures, potentially reaching around 33 degrees Celsius, prompting concerns about heat advisories expanding.

Showers are anticipated to begin in the morning and continue until the evening in various parts of the country. Seoul, Incheon, southern Gyeonggi Province, inland Gangwon, Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang regions can expect between 5 to 40 millimeters of rain. The eastern coast areas will see continuous rain, with Gangwon's eastern coast and mountainous areas receiving 10 to 50 millimeters, and the northeastern coast and northern inland areas of Gyeongbuk receiving 5 to 40 millimeters. Rain is also expected to start in the mountainous areas of Jeju Island from the evening.

Residents in areas experiencing showers should be aware of potential strong winds and thunderstorms, as rainfall amounts can vary significantly even within the same region. Coastal areas, particularly along the eastern coast, are warned of high waves and dangerous undertows until Saturday. The southern coasts of Jeonnam and Gyeongnam, along with Jeju's coast, will also experience strong surges. Additionally, coastal areas along the west and south, and Jeju Island, face a risk of storm surges from late Thursday night into early Friday morning due to the combined effect of high tides and lunar gravity, potentially leading to flooding in low-lying coastal zones.