Snow and Rain Expected Nationwide This Weekend... Up to 10cm of Heavy Snow in Central Inland Regions

Rain or Snow Expected Across Most Regions on the 13th
Snow and Rain to Focus on South Chungcheong and West Coast on the 14th

This weekend, snow or rain is expected in various parts of the country. In particular, the inland areas of central Korea, including the Seoul metropolitan area, are forecast to receive heavy snowfall of up to 10cm.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on December 12, Saturday the 13th will see cloudy skies nationwide, with rain or snow expected in most regions from morning through night. Rain or snow is forecast for the central region, eastern inland Jeolla, North Gyeongsang Province, western inland South Gyeongsang Province, and mountainous areas of Jeju Island, while other areas are expected to see rain. Especially from late afternoon, heavy and wet snow will fall at a rate of 1 to 3cm per hour, mainly in northern and southeastern Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, northern North Chungcheong, and mountainous areas of Jeju Island.

On the 27th of last month, when a heavy snowfall of up to 20cm fell in Seoul, Namsan and the Octagonal Pavilion, as seen from Namsan N Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, were covered in white snow. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The expected snowfall is 5 to 10cm for inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, 3 to 8cm for northern and southeastern Gyeonggi, central and northern North Chungcheong, and mountainous areas of Jeju Island, 1 to 5cm for Seoul, Incheon, southwestern Gyeonggi, the five West Sea islands, southern North Chungcheong, northern inland and northeastern mountainous areas of North Gyeongsang, 1 to 3cm for Daejeon, Sejong, inland South Chungcheong, and eastern North Jeolla, and around 1cm for western inland South Gyeongsang. Rather than a short and intense burst, this snowfall is expected to be strong and prolonged over an extended period.

The expected precipitation is 5 to 20mm for Jeju Island, 5 to 10mm for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, the five West Sea islands, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo. For the east coast of Gangwon, Gwangju, South Jeolla, North Jeolla, Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang, Daegu, and North Gyeongsang, precipitation is expected to be around 5mm.

The morning low temperatures are forecast to range from minus 3 to 7 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs from 2 to 14 degrees Celsius. Wave heights are expected to be 0.5 to 2.5 meters in the East Sea, and 0.5 to 2.0 meters in the West and South Seas. In the offshore areas (about 200km from the coastline), wave heights are expected to reach 1.0 to 3.0 meters in the East and South Seas, and 0.5 to 3.0 meters in the West Sea.

The Korea Meteorological Administration also forecasts snow and rain for Sunday the 14th, mainly along the West Coast of South Chungcheong and Honam. This is due to cold air of minus 30 degrees Celsius or lower descending from the north in the upper atmosphere, while northwesterly winds blow along the edge of the continental high pressure in the lower atmosphere, causing snow clouds to develop over the West Sea due to the temperature difference between the sea and the air. On the 14th, as cold winds blow in from the north, strong winds are expected nationwide, and rough seas are forecast for the coastal waters.