[Tomorrow's Weather] Heavy Snow in Seoul and Surrounding Metropolitan Area in the Afternoon

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] On Wednesday the 19th afternoon, heavy snow will fall in Seoul and the metropolitan area, accumulating up to 7 cm.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecasted that snow will fall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day in Seoul, Incheon, and northern Gyeonggi Province. In Honam, snow or rain is expected during the same period.

This snow is analyzed to occur as cold air below minus 30 degrees Celsius in the upper atmosphere settles over the central West Sea, developing a pressure trough or a medium-scale low-pressure system, creating a snow cloud band that moves inland.

A KMA official said, "Snow is expected to fall heavily before rush hour and then weaken or gradually stop around rush hour."

Regarding expected snowfall by region, 3 to 15 cm of snow is forecasted for the West Sea Five Islands. The metropolitan area, Gangwon Yeongseo, and Chungcheong are expected to receive 1 to 5 cm of snow.

However, places in the metropolitan area and northern Chungnam where snow accumulates heavily are expected to have about 7 cm. Honam, inland Gyeongbuk, and western inland Gyeongnam will see 1 to 3 cm of snow.

After snow falls in the metropolitan area, from 6 p.m. to midnight on the 19th and from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the 20th, snow will fall in Gangwon Yeongdong and the northern East Coast of Gyeongbuk. Snow or rain is also expected in Jeju during the same period.

Between dawn and morning on the 20th, snow or rain will fall on the southern East Coast of Gyeongbuk.

As the pressure trough forming a medium-scale low-pressure system over the central West Sea moves out to the East Sea, cold air settles over the East Sea, and due to the sea-air temperature difference (difference between atmospheric and sea surface temperatures), a snow cloud band forms and moves inland with the east wind, causing snow in these areas.

Especially in Gangwon Yeongdong and the northern East Coast of Gyeongbuk, heavy snow may fall at a rate of about 5 cm per hour for a short period of about one hour between the night of the 19th and dawn of the 20th.

Expected snowfall amounts are 3 to 15 cm in Gangwon Yeongdong, the northern East Coast of Gyeongbuk, Ulleungdo, Dokdo, and Jeju mountain areas (more than 20 cm in some parts of Gangwon Yeongdong, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo), 1 to 5 cm on the southern East Coast of Gyeongbuk, and 1 to 3 cm in Jeju except mountain areas.

Due to the considerable expected snowfall, a heavy snow warning may be issued.

Meanwhile, the lowest temperature on the morning of the 19th is expected to be between minus 13 and minus 2 degrees Celsius, similar to or slightly higher than the 18th. The highest temperature during the day will range from minus 3 to 8 degrees Celsius, also similar to the previous day.