[Tomorrow's Weather] Cold Snap Returns on the First Commute of the Gyemyo Year... Seoul at -9°C

On the 16th, amid a severe cold wave, citizens dressed in thick clothing hurried on their way to work on the streets of Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that "cold wave warnings have been issued for inland Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk regions, and the cold weather will continue for the time being." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] As cold air descends from the northwest, the morning temperature on Monday, the first working day of the Year of the Rabbit (Gyemyo Year), on the 2nd, will drop to around -10 degrees Celsius, making it cold. The central region is expected to remain below freezing even during the day.

On the 1st, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that under the influence of a cold continental high pressure system expanding from northern China, the central region will be mostly clear on the 2nd and 3rd, while the southern region and Jeju Island will have occasional clouds. As cold air moves southward from the northwest, the entire country is expected to become cold again starting tomorrow.

With a cold wave advisory issued for the inland central and inland Gyeongbuk areas, morning temperatures on the 2nd and 3rd will be more than 5 degrees lower than today. The central region, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk will experience temperatures around -10 degrees Celsius, northern Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous Gangwon, and northern Chungbuk will be below -15 degrees Celsius, and Jeonnam and Gyeongnam will maintain temperatures around -5 degrees Celsius below freezing.

Daytime temperatures are also expected to remain below 0 degrees Celsius mainly in the central region until the day after tomorrow. The lowest temperature tomorrow morning will range from -17 to -1 degrees Celsius, and the highest temperature during the day will fluctuate between -4 and 6 degrees Celsius.

Morning low temperatures in major areas are Seoul -9°C, Incheon -7°C, Suwon -9°C, Chuncheon -13°C, Gangneung -4°C, Cheongju -7°C, Daejeon -7°C, Jeonju -5°C, Gwangju -4°C, Daegu -4°C, Busan -1°C, and Jeju 3°C.

Daytime high temperatures are Seoul -1°C, Incheon -2°C, Suwon -1°C, Chuncheon -1°C, Gangneung 6°C, Cheongju 0°C, Daejeon 1°C, Jeonju 2°C, Gwangju 2°C, Daegu 3°C, Busan 6°C, and Jeju 6°C.

On Ulleungdo and Dokdo, occasional snowfall of around 1 cm or rainfall less than 5 mm is expected tomorrow morning.

At sea, until tomorrow, very strong winds of 9 to 16 m/s are expected in the central East Sea offshore and northern southern East Sea offshore areas, with very high waves of 1.5 to 3.5 meters.

Strong winds with gusts reaching 15 m/s on the west coast and Jeju Island, and around 20 m/s in mountainous areas, will occur today in Gangwon Yeongdong, northeastern mountainous areas of Gyeongbuk, and the eastern coast of Gyeongbuk, and tomorrow on the west coast and Jeju Island.

With a dry weather advisory in effect mainly for Gangwon Yeongdong and the coastal areas of Gyeongsang Province, the atmosphere will be very dry, and strong winds may cause small sparks to develop into large fires, so caution is advised.

Fine dust levels will be 'Good' to 'Moderate' nationwide due to smooth atmospheric dispersion, but the Yeongnam region is expected to temporarily reach 'Unhealthy' levels in the morning.