"Long Padding Is a Must for Your Commute" Temperatures to Drop Below Minus 10 Degrees From the 20th...Severe Cold Wave Approaching

Starting next Tuesday and continuing through the latter part of the week, a severe cold wave with temperatures dropping below minus 10 degrees Celsius is expected.

On the 12th of this month, citizens are moving while being covered in snow near Jonggak Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the comprehensive forecast from the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 18th, the air will be extremely dry nationwide on this last day of the weekend, especially along the east coast.

Between the early morning and late morning of the 19th, rain or snow is expected in the central region, parts of North Jeolla, and some inland areas of North Gyeongsang Province. Starting from the 20th, temperatures are forecast to drop sharply across most regions of the country, marking the onset of a severe cold spell. Extra caution is required due to the increased risk of fires, icy roads, and rough seas.

Due to the influence of a low-pressure system over the East Sea, rain or snow is expected from the night of the 18th through the early morning of the 19th in the northern East Coast and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province.

In Seoul, only light flurries are expected, with little to no measurable accumulation (less than 0.1 cm). This is because cold, dry air descending from the north is forecast to make the lower atmosphere dry. As snow and rain fall from the mid-levels, they are expected to evaporate while passing through the dry lower layers.

On the 19th, expected snowfall amounts are as follows: Ulleungdo and Dokdo 1-5 cm, mountainous areas of Gangwon 1-3 cm, inland Gangwon, northern East Coast of Gangwon, Chungcheong, and North Jeolla around 1 cm, and less than 1 cm in eastern Gyeonggi, southwestern Gyeonggi, southwestern inland North Gyeongsang, northern inland North Gyeongsang, northeastern mountainous North Gyeongsang, and western inland South Gyeongsang. Precipitation amounts are expected to be around or less than 1 mm, except for Ulleungdo and Dokdo, which may receive 5-10 mm.

From the 20th to the 25th, the minimum temperature in Seoul is forecast to plunge below minus 10 degrees Celsius.

On the 20th, the nationwide morning low is expected to range from minus 17 to minus 3 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs between minus 4 and 6 degrees. On the 21st, morning lows are forecast to be between minus 16 and minus 5 degrees, and daytime highs between minus 6 and 3 degrees. On the 22nd, morning temperatures will range from minus 15 to minus 7 degrees, and daytime highs from minus 4 to 3 degrees. On the 23rd and 24th, morning lows will be between minus 14 and minus 3 degrees, with daytime highs from minus 2 to 5 degrees. From the 25th to the 28th, morning lows are forecast to be between minus 13 and 0 degrees, and daytime highs from minus 3 to 7 degrees.