"Snow Followed by Immediate Spring... Temperature Swings in Gwangju and Jeonnam This March"

Average Temperature at 8.6 Degrees... Fifth Highest on Record
Early Summer in Late March, Snowfall in the Middle of the Month

On the 2nd, citizens are walking along a cherry blossom path in Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Song Bohyun

One week saw snow accumulation, while the following week short sleeves felt natural. The unusual March weather in Gwangju and Jeonnam has been confirmed by meteorological records.

According to the “March Climate Characteristics” report released by the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration on the 2nd, the average temperature in Gwangju and Jeonnam last month was 8.6 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees higher than the average year. This is the fifth highest figure since the nationwide meteorological observation network was expanded in 1973.

Temperatures rose particularly sharply in late March. From March 21 to the end of the month, the average temperature was 11.2 degrees Celsius, ranking fourth highest for this period. This was due to warm and dry air from inland China being carried in on strong westerly winds. During this time, some areas set new records for the highest daily temperature in March.

However, the middle of March was the complete opposite. A cold snap brought a sudden drop in temperature of nearly 10 degrees, and between the 15th and 18th, cold upper-level Arctic air and low pressure caused snowfall on some days.

The number of snowy days in Gwangju and Jeonnam in March was three, 1.3 days more than average, and the total snowfall was 1.6 cm, 0.4 cm more than usual.

Ham Dongju, head of the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration, said, “Due to climate change, weather volatility is increasing, and we are experiencing weather conditions we have never seen before more frequently. We will continue to closely monitor and respond to protect the safety and lives of the public from meteorological disasters.”