This summer’s rainy season officially began on Tuesday in South Korea’s southern island of Jeju.
　
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the monsoon season will expand to the nation’s southern region this weekend.
 
The annual rain front is forecast to start in the central part of the nation by the end of this month, three or four days later than in previous years. The delay is because the North Pacific high pressure system is not strong enough to push the rain front to the north.
 
A KMA official explains the North Pacific high pressure system will not gain much strength due to the El Nino phenomenon. The rain front will slowly move up with the weaker-than-expected expansion of the high pressure system.
 
The weather administration predicts that this year’s monsoon season will bring a rainfall of 350 to 400 millimeters to the nation during its month-long stay.