Organisers of the World Scout Jamboree might be feeling jinxed by now. Torrential rain and flooding before the event, heatwave warnings for days and now a typhoon in the forecast. Planning the massive camp for over 40,000 people on reclaimed land in the southwest of the peninsula might have been a bold choice initially but severe weather has plagued the region. All the remaining Scouts will leaving the site at SaeManGeum early due to incoming 'Khanum'. For the UK Scouts who are already away in Seoul , the forecast points to heavy rain from midweek, so quite a change from the hot sun.
South Korea had seen torrential rains which led to widespread flooding. The site’s drainage system was not completed and also suffered damage in the heavy downpours. As Scouts arrived from around the world, including the 4,500 UK contingent, the temperatures began to rise as the seasonal monsoon rains ended.
The Scouts had been told about the heat and humidity, to keep hydrated and prepare for a different environment from that of usual summer camps. However, temperatures in Jeollabuk-do province rose high into the 30sC and stayed there with heatwave warnings for days from the KMA (Korean Meteorological Administration). As the UK contingent decided to leave the site, listing four reasons, the forecast was for mid 30sC throughout the next week.
Next, the forecast shows tropical rains from ‘Khanun’. This typhoon has been wandering about, troubling the far southern remote islands of Japan as the major Japanese islands also suffer from ferocious heat. Khanun was following on from Typhoon Doksuri which brought devastating rains to China, including the capital Beijing but now looks to take a different path northward. There will be some uncertainty in the forecast as another Tropical Depression is now appearing to the east, out in the Pacific Ocean.
The Severe Tropical Storm Khanun will weaken as it moves northwards, if the centre is over the land of the Korean Peninsula. For this part of the world, the cyclone warnings come from RSMC Tokyo as part of the Japan Meteorological Agency. The cyclone is below Typhoon/Hurricane status with graphics showing the changes from Severe Tropical Storm status (STS) to Tropical Storm then Tropical Depression (TD) over time midweek. For the Scouts in Seoul, with daytime temperatures up to 35C and barely dipping below 27C, a change in the weather might be a relief. Although a soggy one.
For those still in Saemangeum, at the WSJ site,
The World Organisation of the Scout Movement said it had "received confirmation this morning from the government of the Republic of Korea that due to the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun, an early departure will be planned for all participants at the 25th World Scout Jamboree from the campsite in SaeManGeum."
For anyone heading away on holiday this summer, there can be impacts from local weather. Those in Cornwall on Saturday were soaked and buffeted by Storm Antoni, there were the Rhodes wildfires and this week Slovenian/Italian/Hungarian thunderstorms and flash flooding. Travel plans go awry and things change, sometimes slightly, other times in a major way. As our global climate changes, extreme rainfall and temperatures become more likely, leading to more severe flooding and heatwave events.
The Scouting volunteers (in Korea and the UK) and the International Service Teams (IST) are having a completely different trip from what was planned and dreamed of. Having to reference the extensive contingency plans which everyone would have hoped wouldn’t be needed. There have been layers and layers of issues; the expected climate of seasonal monsoon rains clearing to hot and humid conditions, but this year exacerbated by extreme torrential rains and flooding. Then extreme heat for Korea and Japan, another layer and more than usual. Issues onsite to deal with the waterlogging, the heat and thousands of visitors and logistical problems with sanitation, food supplies, water supply and medical care. For the western Pacific, there is not a marked cyclone season, unlike other parts of the world but the likelihood of a tropical cyclone is a feature of the eastern Asian climate.
Another layer has been technology and media. In decades past, scouts and guides would have headed off to camp for a week or so, returned tanned and dirty, completely weary but happy as parents awaited tales of the adventures. They might get a few grunts, or gabbled chat over dinner then have to wait until late the next day whilst the young person slept for hours, after leaving the bath with a muddy tide. Nowadays with mobile phones, the only delay is the time difference and sleeping teenagers. As the Scouts set off, there were planned interviews, TV coverage at airports and social media updates of excitement at their upcoming opportunity after several years of fundraising and training camps. There has been newsworthy weather and happenings but all the Scouts are safe.
To go on an adventure means to experience it. To be immersed in the place and the people, in your group and those you meet. Certain parents back home sharing their gossip, anxieties and misplaced anger, from afar, at their children, whilst individually ranting to the Guardian might do to reflect on what their children could be gaining from this different jamboree experience. They are still in a foreign country with loads of other teens, in a completely different culture. They have seen what a WSJ looks like and it is a huge shame that it didn’t go as planned. They might want to go as IST next time. What should be noted is how their volunteer adults have steered them and kept them safe. They might not have really noticed much (without prompting), a teen view of any trip is often very different to an adult's concerns or impressions. This is what world travel is about. And the layer of extreme weather will become more of a feature for everyone planning any kind of family holiday or large-scale world event.
Torrential Rains in lead up to WSJ
Typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes - naming and regions of responsibility
Press release from WSJ
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