We have another typhoon approaching the Korean Peninsula.
The 18th one of the season, Mitag, is forecast to hit the southern parts of the country on Thursday, which is National Foundation Day.
Some parts can expect heavy rain from Tuesday as the force of nature approaches.
Choi Jeong-yoon has the details.
Typhoon Mitag is likely to strike the South Korean mainland by early Thursday.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Mitag was located some 300 kilometers off the coast of Taiwan as of Monday 3 p.m, traveling in a west-northwest direction toward Shanghai, China.
It is a medium-sized typhoon with a maximum wind speed of 1-hundred-26 kilometers per hour but is expected to weaken as it passes by China on Tuesday night.
Under its projected direction, the typhoon will reach the seas west of Jeju-do Island on Wednesday and travel north to waters off Jeollanam-do Province by the next morning.
It will then move towards Gyeongsang-do Province and will leave the Korean peninsula on Friday, moving into the East Sea near Dokdo Island.
"Areas near Jeju-do Island and southern coasts where the typhoon is forecast to approach the closest are expected to be the most dangerous zones during the storm. By the time the typhoon makes landfall on Thursday, its impact will be felt nationwide."
Jeju-do Island is expected to feel the effects of the typhoon starting Tuesday,... with heavy downpours from 30 to 80 millimeters of rain and even up to 600 millimeters in mountainous regions.
By dawn Tuesday, a typhoon alert is forecast to be issued in southern parts of the sea near Jeju Island.
As Mitag strikes South Korea with rain clouds, heavy rain warnings will also be issued the same day in the mountainous regions in Jeju Island,...along with high seas warnings.
There is also the possibility that the typhoon changes direction westward, which may have bigger influence on metropolitan areas in the central parts of the country, including Seoul.
Experts say that the impact of this week's storm may be more catastrophic than that of Typhoon Tapah.
"The strength of Mitag is expected to be comparatively weaker than the strength of the recent typhoon Tapah. But as Mitag is expected to pass directly through South Korea, the impact of the storm may be similar or even bigger than that of Tapah. With a maximum wind speed of 30 meters per second, roofs and tiles can easily get ripped off."
Jeju Island has been struck four times by typhoons this season alone, and Mitag will be the fifth following Danas, Lekima , Lingling and Tapah.
Typhoon Mitag will also be the 7th typhoon to have an impact on the Korean Peninsula in one year, an event that hasn't taken place since 1959.
Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.