Cold front engulfs nation
Published: 01 Dec. 2014, 21:17
Pedestrians walk across Gwanghwamun Intersection on Monday in central Seoul. Snow fell nationwide Monday morning and was accompanied by strong winds throughout the day. Korea’s weather agency predicts the frigid temps will continue until Dec. 8. [NEWS1]
In Seoul, morning temperatures dropped far below zero, at minus 7 degrees Celsius (19 degrees Fahrenheit), and wind blew at a speed of 14 meters per second (31 miles per hour), putting the sensory temperature at minus 10 degrees Celsius. Snow sporadically fell starting at 8 a.m., but faded out entirely by midday to leave a buildup less than a centimeter (0.4 inch) high that quickly melted away.
A strong wind warning was issued across the country throughout most of the day despite the snow, affecting even Jeju Island, the country’s warmest region.
Cheonan and Asan, in South Chungcheong, saw at least 3 centimeters of snow on Monday, and weather authorities expect that buildup to increase over Tuesday to about 10 centimeters. The rest of South Chungcheong, as well as the southern coastal areas of South Jeolla, will likely accumulate to 1 to 3 centimeters of snow by Tuesday.
Snow is not forecast for Seoul on Tuesday, but temperatures will drop more than on Monday, to minus 10 degrees Celsius. The high Tuesday is expected to be around minus 1 degree Celsius.
Morning temperatures for Tuesday are likely to dip below zero degrees across the country, except on Jeju Island, weather officials said.
Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) added on Monday that a cold wave could be issued Tuesday in most central areas, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong.
A spokesperson from KMA said the cold would continue through early next week, pointing toward the expansion of a cold continental anticyclone, in which large-scale winds flow across a region with high atmospheric pressure.
In Seoul, the weather will improve slightly on Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures expected to range from minus 4 degrees Celsius to 1 degree Celsius, and minus 5 degrees Celsius to 1 degree Celsius, respectively. However, temperatures on Friday are expected to fall once again past zero. The day’s high is expected to be around minus 1 degree Celsius.
Over the weekend, daily temperatures will range between minus 6 degrees and 1 degree Celsius.
BY LEE SUNG-EUN [selee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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