[Weather Tomorrow] Extreme Cold Continues on Year's Last Day... Seoul Wind Chill at -14 Degrees

Mostly Clear Skies Allow for Sunset and Sunrise Viewing

On the morning of December 31, the last day of 2025, temperatures in the inland areas of Gyeonggi Province and the inland and mountainous regions of Gangwon Province are expected to drop below -10 degrees Celsius, while other regions will see temperatures fall below -5 degrees Celsius, resulting in extremely cold conditions. Most areas are not expected to rise above freezing even during the day.

The nationwide morning low temperatures are forecast to range from -12 to 0 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs from -5 to 4 degrees Celsius. The expected low and high temperatures for major cities are as follows: Seoul, -8 and -3 degrees; Incheon, -8 and -4 degrees; Daejeon, -7 and 0 degrees; Gwangju and Daegu, -3 and 1 degree; Ulsan, -2 and 2 degrees; and Busan, 0 and 4 degrees.

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In particular, strong winds will intensify the cold. The west coast and Jeju Island are expected to experience gusts of around 55 km/h (up to 70 km/h in mountainous areas). In Seoul, the wind chill in the morning could drop to as low as -14 degrees Celsius. In Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, the wind chill is expected to fall to -20 degrees Celsius.

The cold wave is expected to continue into the New Year. On the first day of the New Year, morning lows are forecast to range from -16 to -4 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs from -5 to 4 degrees Celsius, which is even colder than December 31. In most areas, morning temperatures will remain around -10 degrees Celsius, while the inland and mountainous regions of Gyeonggi and Gangwon, as well as the northeastern inland and mountainous regions of North Gyeongsang Province, could see temperatures drop to around -15 degrees Celsius.

On December 31 and January 1, skies across the country will generally be clear, so it should not be difficult to view the sunset and sunrise. However, as the cold air passes over the relatively warm sea, clouds may form, making it difficult to see the sunset and sunrise in some areas, such as the seas, Jeju Island, Ulleungdo, Dokdo, and the west coast.

At sea, strong winds of 30 to 60 km/h (8 to 16 m/s) and high waves of 1 to 4 meters are expected to continue in the far offshore areas of the central and southern East Sea. On December 31, rough seas are also expected in the far southern offshore areas of the West Sea, the waters around Jeju (excluding the northern nearshore), the far offshore areas of the eastern South Sea, and the far southern offshore areas of the East Sea. Other seas will also gradually experience rougher waves.

The atmosphere will remain dry, especially east of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. Dry weather advisories have been issued for the east coast and southern mountainous regions of Gangwon Province, the east coast and northeastern mountainous regions of North Gyeongsang Province, as well as Busan, Ulsan, and parts of South Gyeongsang Province. Since winds will also be strong, making fires more likely, those planning to hike to view the sunset or sunrise should be sure to follow wildfire prevention guidelines.