1 to 3 cm of Snowfall per Hour Expected in Central Inland Region
This weekend, heavy snowfall is expected in the Seoul metropolitan area and other parts of the central inland region.
On the 4th, a road near Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, remained icy as snow removal work was not completed. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 12th, from this afternoon through the weekend, strong and heavy snow will fall mainly in the mountainous areas and eastern coast of Gangwon Province, as well as the central inland region. Up to more than 10 centimeters of snow is forecast for the Gangwon area, and snowfall in the central inland is expected to reach 1 to 3 centimeters per hour.
This is largely due to a trough of low pressure formed between a high-pressure system that moved eastward after bringing snow and rain to the eastern regions such as the Gangwon east coast and mountains, and a new high-pressure system approaching from the northwest of Korea. As a result, heavy snowfall warnings are expected to be issued, especially for the central regions including the Seoul metropolitan area. On the 4th, during the evening commute, up to about 5 centimeters of snow fell in just 30 minutes to an hour in the Seoul metropolitan area, causing significant inconvenience. This weekend, strong snowfall is expected to continue for a comparatively longer period.
On the 13th, precipitation will begin in the morning and continue through the night. Depending on the temperature, the central region, eastern inland Jeolla, western inland Gyeongsang, northern inland North Gyeongsang, northeastern mountainous North Gyeongsang, and mountainous Jeju are expected to see either rain or snow, while the rest of the country will likely experience rain. As cold air settles over the Korean Peninsula and the trough of low pressure brings relatively warm southwesterly winds, precipitation is expected to develop. Initially, rain or a mix of rain and snow will fall, but as temperatures gradually drop, this will turn to snow. Heavy snowfall in the central inland and other regions is expected to occur in the afternoon.
On the 14th, snow is also expected, mainly along the west coasts of Chungnam and Honam. In the upper atmosphere, cold air at around minus 30 degrees Celsius will descend from the north, while at lower levels, northwesterly winds will blow along the edge of the continental high-pressure system, leading to the development of snow clouds over the West Sea due to the temperature difference between the sea and the air. As cold winds blow in from the north, strong winds are expected nationwide, and rough seas are also anticipated.
The government will activate its response system in line with the heavy snow forecast. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, led by Kwangyong Kim, Director-General for Disaster and Safety Management, held a meeting with relevant agencies to review snow removal measures. They instructed city and provincial governments, as well as city, county, and district offices, to re-confirm cooperation systems to prevent any gaps in snow removal at border areas such as expressways, national highways, and local roads, and to share snow removal status in real time with neighboring local governments and road management authorities.
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