Local residents look out over the Obong Reservoir in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Saturday, a vital water source that supplies nearly 87 percent of the city's household water. (Yonhap)
Local residents look out over the Obong Reservoir in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Saturday, a vital water source that supplies nearly 87 percent of the city's household water. (Yonhap)

Rainfall finally arrived in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, after weeks of drought, though it still fell short of significantly easing the city’s water shortages.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of 8 a.m. Saturday, a total of 86.9 millimeters of rain had fallen in Yonggang-dong, with heavier downpours exceeding 100 millimeters recorded in other parts of the city.

Rainfall in the Obong Reservoir catchment area was more modest, ranging between 60 and 70 millimeters, not enough to end the drought.

Still, the rain did bring a slight improvement in reservoir levels. The Obong Reservoir’s storage rate rose from 11.5 percent on Friday to 12.1 percent by 10 a.m. Saturday, marking its first increase in 52 days.

The KMA said rainfall is expected to taper off across most of the country by Saturday night, but showers may persist through Sunday in parts of Gangwon Province, North Gyeongsang Province and Jeju Island.

Waters upstream of the Obong Reservoir in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, flow under falling rain on Saturday. (Yonhap)
Waters upstream of the Obong Reservoir in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, flow under falling rain on Saturday. (Yonhap)

minmin@heraldcorp.com