Lifting of Strong Wind Advisory

A document outlining the Korea Meteorological Administration's criteria and procedures for lifting strong wind advisories, precautions after lifting, and recent trends in advisory operations.

Lifting of Strong Wind Advisory

Overview

Lifting a Strong Wind Advisory is a measure by the Korea Meteorological Administration to terminate the effect of an advisory when it judges that the advisory no longer needs to be maintained. A Strong Wind Advisory is issued to prevent facility damage and casualties caused by strong winds, and lifting it is not merely an administrative closure but also a signal that returns the disaster response system to its normal stage. The timing and scope of lifting are determined by combining observational data and numerical forecasts, and even after lifting, follow-up damage inspections and safety measures are necessary.

Main Details

Definition and Issuance Criteria of Strong Wind Advisory

A Strong Wind Advisory is a weather advisory issued when strong winds are expected to cause disasters. On land, it is issued when the maximum wind speed is expected to be 14 m/s or higher or the instantaneous wind speed is expected to be 20 m/s or higher and to persist for 3 hours or more. At sea, it is issued when wind speeds of 14 m/s or higher are expected to persist for 3 hours or more. When stronger winds are expected, a Strong Wind Warning is issued, with criteria of a maximum wind speed of 21 m/s or higher on land and 21 m/s or higher at sea. Advisories and warnings are operated in stages; if conditions worsen, an advisory is replaced by a warning, and if conditions improve, a warning is lowered to an advisory or lifted.

Procedure for Judging Lifting

Lifting decisions are made by reviewing observational network data such as Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), ocean weather buoys, and rawinsondes, together with regional numerical forecast models and ensemble forecasts. Forecasters at the Korea Meteorological Administration comprehensively analyze the timing at which the low pressure or pressure trough that caused the strong winds moves or weakens, the timing at which wind speeds fall below the criteria, and changes in the spatial extent of the strong wind area. In general, lifting is decided when wind speeds fall below the advisory criteria and are expected to remain so for a considerable time; if winds temporarily weaken and then strengthen again, lifting is withheld or the advisory area is adjusted. Lifting decisions are rapidly disseminated through the Korea Meteorological Administration website and mobile app, disaster text messages (CBS), and broadcaster reports.

Precautions After Lifting

Even after an advisory is lifted, safety is not immediately secured. Signs, construction temporary materials, rooftop structures, vinyl greenhouses, and similar objects loosened by strong winds retain risks of falling or collapse after lifting. At coasts and breakwaters, swell waves may still come in after strong winds subside, and after dry weather and strong winds combine, the risk of wildfires increases. The resumption of operations for transportation such as aircraft, passenger ships, and railways is carried out sequentially based on weather conditions and safety inspection results, so users must separately check operation information.

Social and Economic Ripple Effects

The issuance and lifting of Strong Wind Advisories affect various sectors, including flight cancellations and delays, passenger ship controls, suspension of outdoor construction, cancellation of festivals and events, and power facility failures. Therefore, the timing of lifting is directly linked to decisions by disaster response agencies, local governments, and transport and logistics operators, and accurate advance notice of lifting contributes to reducing social costs.

Recent Trends

In 2024–2025, as abnormal climate phenomena caused by climate change have become more frequent, the frequency and patterns of issuance and lifting of strong wind advisories are changing. The Korea Meteorological Administration is reviewing a revision of advisory criteria to increase the effectiveness of instantaneous wind speed criteria and reflect regional damage characteristics, and is working to improve the precision of lifting timing using digital forecasts and automated advisory generation systems. In addition, the method of delivering lifting information more accurately by subdividing the target areas and wording of disaster text messages is expanding, and linked operation of marine and land advisories and the need for combined management of strong wind, dry, and wildfire advisories are also being discussed.