[Weekend Weather] Dry in the East, Heavy Snow in the West... Severe Weather Hits Gwangju and Jeonnam

Up to 7 cm of Snow and Cold Wave with Lows Down to -7°C Forecast
Strong Winds along the Coast and Dry Weather Advisory Issued for Eastern Region

Heavy snow, strong winds, and dry weather warnings have been issued in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, with a significant snowfall forecast for the first weekend of 2026, compounding adverse weather conditions. The photo shows a vendor at Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu, on the 3rd of last month, warming his reddened hands by a heater while preparing for business as the cold wave arrived. Photo by Yonhap News.

Adverse weather conditions have compounded in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions as heavy snow, strong winds, and dry weather warnings have all been issued simultaneously for the first weekend of 2026. In particular, heavy snowfall is forecast for the western parts of Gwangju and Jeonnam until early tomorrow morning.

According to the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration on January 2, a heavy snow advisory has been issued for Gwangju and 14 cities and counties in Jeonnam, including Naju, Jangseong, and Yeonggwang. The snowfall is expected to continue until the early morning of January 3. Accumulated snowfall is forecast to be between 2 and 7 centimeters in Gwangju and western Jeonnam, and around 1 centimeter in the eastern parts of Jeonnam. In particular, heavy snow of 1 to 3 centimeters per hour is expected to fall until the morning of January 3, so extra caution is advised to prevent damage to facilities and accidents on icy roads.

The cold wave is also intensifying. By tomorrow morning, the lowest temperatures in Gwangju and the inland areas of Jeonnam are expected to range from minus 7 to minus 3 degrees Celsius, which is about 3 to 5 degrees lower than average. Strong cold winds will make it feel even colder. However, according to a meteorological agency official, temperatures are expected to gradually rise to average levels from the afternoon of January 3, which is the weekend.

Conditions at sea and along the coast are also unfavorable. A strong wind advisory has been issued for the entire Jeonnam coastline, with gusts expected to exceed 70 kilometers per hour until early tomorrow morning. A high seas warning is in effect for the southern part of the West Sea and the far southern part of the South Sea, with waves expected to reach up to 4.0 meters, so vessels engaged in navigation or fishing should seek safe shelter.

Meanwhile, a dry weather advisory has been issued for the eastern part of Jeonnam, including Yeosu, Gwangyang, and Suncheon, where no snow is expected.

An official from the meteorological agency stated, "The atmosphere is very dry and winds are strong, especially in eastern Jeonnam, so there is a high risk that even a small spark could lead to a large fire. Please refrain from using fire during mountain activities and avoid outdoor activities such as burning trash."