[Weather] First Commute of the New Year Brings -17°C Cold Wave... Snow in Chungcheong, Jeolla, and Jeju

On January 2, the first commute of the new year, a cold wave with temperatures dropping to as low as minus 17 degrees Celsius and strong winds is expected.

Citizens wearing outerwear such as padded jackets are crossing the street at Gwanghwamun Intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, cold wave advisories have been issued for the Seoul metropolitan area, inland and mountainous regions of Gangwon, Chungbuk, parts of inland Chungnam, inland Gyeongbuk, and eastern Jeonbuk. As of 6 a.m., the temperatures in major regions are as follows: Seoul -11.1 degrees, Incheon -11.5 degrees, Chuncheon -13.9 degrees, Gangneung -7.6 degrees, Daejeon -10.5 degrees, Daegu -7.4 degrees, Jeonju -8.8 degrees, Gwangju -6.8 degrees, Busan -5.9 degrees, and Jeju 2 degrees Celsius.

Rain or snow is expected in Chungnam, central and southern Chungbuk, the west coast and southern inland of Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Jeju Island. Over the next two days, the expected snowfall amounts are: around 1 cm on the west coast of Chungnam; 2 to 7 cm on the west coast and southern inland of Jeonbuk, Gwangju, and western Jeonnam; less than 1 cm in eastern Jeonnam; 5 to 10 cm (over 15 cm in some areas) on Ulleungdo and Dokdo; 5 to 10 cm (over 15 cm in some areas) in the mountainous regions of Jeju; 3 to 8 cm in the mid-mountain areas of Jeju; and 2 to 7 cm along the coast of Jeju.

Fine dust levels are expected to be "good" nationwide due to the inflow of clean northwesterly air currents.

Waves at sea will be very high, reaching up to 5.5 meters in the East Sea and the seas around Jeju Island.