Weekend Cold Snap Returns
Snow Melts and Freezes Causing Icicle Fall Risk
Rooftop Pipe Leak Inspection and Snow Removal Needed
Following heavy snowfall, severe cold is expected across the country throughout the weekend, making special caution necessary regarding icicle falling accidents. As temperatures fluctuate between dropping and rising, the number of 119 emergency dispatches due to icicles is also increasing.
On December 31, the last day of 2019 and amid a year-end cold wave with temperatures around minus 10 degrees Celsius, icicles formed along the Han River near the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. The frozen icicles seem to reflect the cooled atmosphere in the National Assembly due to the clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over the passage of the Corruption Investigation Office Act. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
According to data from the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 27th, a severe cold wave is expected throughout this weekend, with morning temperatures in Seoul dropping to as low as -12 degrees Celsius. On Saturday the 18th, the forecasted morning low temperature is between -19 and -4 degrees Celsius, and the daytime high temperature is between -4 and -3 degrees Celsius.
Melting snow freezes again in the cold weather, forming icicles on building exteriors, posing a threat to citizens' safety, thus requiring special caution. According to the Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters, the number of emergency dispatches for icicle safety measures in December last year was 353 cases, which is 2.6 times higher than the 98 cases during the same period the previous year. This figure is also 2.2 times higher than the 112 cases in December 2020, when cold wave warnings were frequent.
Icicles often form on roof edges or external pipes during periods when temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing. If they fall, they can cause injury or property damage. The number of emergency dispatches due to icicles during winter (December to February of the following year) by year were △177 cases in 2020 △844 cases in 2021 △659 cases in 2022, with January accounting for 56.2% of all dispatches.
On the morning of the 30th of last month, icicles formed in a residential area in Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
To prevent damage caused by icicle accidents, it is first necessary to inspect for leaks in rooftop pipes. If leaks occur in building rooftop drainage pipes, water can leak outside and form icicles. Also, snow should be removed in advance to prevent icicle formation as it melts.
When leaving the house for an extended period, water meter and pipe insulation measures should be taken, and warning signs or control lines should be installed near buildings where large icicles have formed. If icicles form in locations that are difficult to remove, such as the upper parts of buildings or building walls, report to 119.
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