[Weather] Heavy Snowfall to Hit Jeju from Weekend Evening... Up to 3cm Expected on Coast

Up to 20cm of Snow Expected in Mountainous Areas,
2?7cm in Mid-Mountain Regions
Wind Chill to Plummet Below Freezing from the 11th as Cold Winds Intensify

The 'HELLO JEJU' sculpture at snow-covered Jeju International Airport. The Korea Meteorological Administration has forecasted heavy snowfall in the mountainous and coastal areas of Jeju this weekend. Photo by Park Changwon

This weekend, the second weekend of the year, Jeju will experience a severe cold snap, with snow expected even in coastal areas.

According to the Jeju Regional Meteorological Administration, Jeju will be on the edge of a high-pressure system on January 9. However, from the afternoon of January 10 through January 11, the region will come under the influence of a cold continental high-pressure system.

On January 9, the sky will be mostly cloudy, gradually becoming overcast. From late afternoon on January 10, snow clouds forming over the West Sea will move in, bringing rain or snow, mainly to mountainous areas at first, and expanding to most regions by late night.

From late afternoon on January 10 through January 11, expected snowfall amounts are 5 to 15 centimeters in mountainous areas, with some locations receiving more than 20 centimeters. The mid-mountain regions are expected to see 2 to 7 centimeters, and coastal areas will receive around 1 to 3 centimeters. Areas with rain will see precipitation amounts between 5 and 20 millimeters. In particular, during the early morning hours of January 11, heavy snowfall is likely in mountainous and mid-mountain areas, possibly leading to a heavy snow advisory. Some eastern and southern regions are also expected to receive significant snowfall.

Temperatures will be similar to or lower than the seasonal average. On January 9, the daytime high will range from 10 to 12 degrees Celsius. On January 10, morning lows will be between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs will reach 12 to 13 degrees Celsius.

On January 11, as cold air moves in, morning lows will drop to 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs will remain between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius. Strong winds will make the wind chill feel below freezing.

On land, starting from the early morning of January 10, some areas will experience strong winds with gusts exceeding 20 meters per second. At sea, especially around the waters off Jeju, strong winds are expected, with waves reaching up to 5 meters, prompting a high seas warning.

An official from the Jeju Meteorological Administration stated, "From January 10, heavy snow and strong winds are expected to disrupt air and sea transportation between Jeju and the mainland. Travelers should check transportation information in advance."