8 Official Weather Maps and Alert Services to Check Before It Rains

When judging whether it will rain, just looking at the probability of precipitation can lead you to miss the timing of your departure and the actual movement of rain clouds. Even with the same 'rain forecast', neighborhood forecasts provide hourly prospects, radar shows the current location of precipitation bands, and short-term forecasts indicate the movement potential for the near future. Alerts and notices help you determine whether to simply prepare an umbrella or change your travel plans.

This list organizes the KMA's (Korea Meteorological Administration) weather forecasts, radar, satellite images, alerts, and notifications in a sequence suitable for making decisions about going out. It helps distinguish which screens to open first when planning your day in the morning, checking rain clouds right before departure, or when dangerous weather is expected. Each screen has different announcement times and update cycles, so be sure to verify that you're using the latest data.

If you’re going out regularly, it’s efficient to first check the neighborhood forecast for the hourly probability of precipitation and expected rainfall at your destination, and as your departure approaches, use radar and short-term forecasts to see if the actual precipitation band is approaching. Complement wide cloud flows with satellite images, and if there’s a possibility of heavy rain or strong winds, prioritize reading the regions and issuance times of weather alerts over the forecast numbers.

Instead of keeping a captured image of the forecast screen for a long time, it’s important to make a habit of reopening the official page right before you head out. App notifications can be delayed due to location, permission settings, or communication status, so for risky schedules, double-check it directly. If heavy rain has already started or if river and underpass controls are in effect, prioritize following disaster messages and onsite guidance rather than moving to check maps.