Yellow Dust and Fine Dust Cover the Nation Until the 13th, Dryness Advisory Also Issued

On the 12th, when a fine dust warning was issued across Seoul, the city center viewed from Namsan in Seoul was shrouded in fine dust accompanied by yellow dust. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

From the morning of the 12th, the entire country has been under a strong assault of yellow dust. The yellow dust is forecasted to cover the whole nation until the 13th, and combined with fine dust, the worst air quality is expected on this day.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) raised the nationwide yellow dust crisis alert to the 'caution' level at 7 a.m. on the 12th. The 'caution' level is issued "when a fine dust warning is issued due to yellow dust and there is a possibility of a large-scale disaster." The yellow dust crisis alert has four levels: interest, caution, warning, and severe. An interest alert was issued nationwide at 5 p.m. the previous day and was then upgraded to caution.

The KMA stated that the yellow dust originating from the Inner Mongolian Plateau and the Gobi Desert has been carried by northwesterly winds and has been observed nationwide since the morning of the 12th.

The KMA forecasted that this yellow dust will cover the entire country until the 13th.

Along with the yellow dust, fine dust also swept across the Korean Peninsula on this day. As of 7 a.m., the fine dust concentration in most regions nationwide, including Seoul, Ulsan, Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do, Gwangju, and Jeju, far exceeded the 'very bad' level (above 151㎍/㎥). Accordingly, the KMA issued fine dust advisories and warnings for almost all regions nationwide. A fine dust advisory (warning) is issued when the PM10 1-hour average concentration is expected to remain at or above 150㎍/㎥ (300㎍/㎥) for 2 hours.

The ultrafine dust condition also worsened; as of 7 a.m., only the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province were at a 'moderate' level, while the rest of the country recorded 'bad' or 'very bad' levels. An ultrafine dust advisory was issued for Ulsan.

Additionally, as of 10 a.m. on the 12th, dry weather advisories were issued for most regions nationwide, including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, and Gwangju. Ulsan, Daegu, Taebaek in Gangwon Province, and the southern, central, and northern mountainous areas of Gangwon Province were issued a higher-level dry weather warning.

The KMA stated, "Since the atmosphere nationwide is expected to be severely dry and strong winds continue mainly in the Yeongdong region of Gangwon Province, caution is advised regarding wildfires and other fires."