The Worst Yellow Dust This Spring... Masks Required Until the Weekend

Most areas nationwide, including the Seoul metropolitan area, are covered in yellow dust, and some regions are expected to experience rain mixed with yellow dust until the afternoon.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 29th, as of 8 a.m., the 1-hour average concentration of fine dust (PM10) exceeded the "very bad" level (151㎍/㎥ or higher) by a wide margin in most parts of the central region: Seoul 440㎍/㎥, Incheon 349㎍/㎥, Gyeonggi 424㎍/㎥, Gangwon 329㎍/㎥, Chungnam 213㎍/㎥, Sejong 190㎍/㎥, and Chungbuk 191㎍/㎥.

On the 29th, yellow dust originating from Inner Mongolia, China, traveled to South Korea on the northwest wind, leading to fine dust warnings in most areas of the central region. The city center viewed from Sinmunno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is shrouded in fine dust accompanied by yellow dust. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

With yellow dust originating from the Inner Mongolian Plateau hitting the area, nationwide fine dust levels are expected to soar from "bad" to "very bad." In Cheongna, Incheon, the 1-hour average fine dust concentration reached as high as 698㎍/㎥ as of 6 a.m. Air quality is also expected to be poor on Saturday, the 30th.

Currently, fine dust warnings and advisories have been issued in various parts of the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon, and Chungcheong regions. The Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon are also experiencing high concentrations of ultrafine dust (PM2.5), with an ultrafine dust advisory issued for Ganghwa, Incheon.

Occasional rain mixed with yellow dust is expected until the afternoon in the Seoul metropolitan area, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, Chungcheong, Jeonbuk, northern inland Gyeongbuk, southwestern inland Gyeongbuk, and western inland Gyeongnam. Although the rainfall will be less than 5mm at most, it is advisable to avoid getting wet due to the presence of yellow dust.

A Korea Meteorological Administration official stated, "The duration and affected areas of yellow dust may vary depending on additional emissions from the yellow dust source and the airflow patterns," and urged, "Please refer to upcoming weather information and fine dust forecasts."