Cold spell is set to last into Monday
Some parts of the Han River froze on Tuesday, which was recorded as the coldest day so far this winter season. [KANG JUNG-HYUN]
The weather agency issued cold spell warnings in most of the nation - Seoul, Incheon, the Chungcheong region, Gangwon and the northern part of Gyeonggi.
According to the weather forecast Tuesday, the low in Seoul will dip down to minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday. On Tuesday, the low was minus-15.1 degrees Celsius. The weather agency forecast daytime high temperatures in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon and the Chungcheong region would stay below freezing throughout the week.
“The cold spell will snap starting Monday, with a return to usual average temperatures from Wednesday,” said weather forecaster Kim Yong-jin.
The frigid weather, with heavy snowfall and strong winds, forced delays and cancellations for ferries and flight routes. Due to harsh weather, six Jeju bound flights were canceled and 60 flights were delayed.
On Monday, a 60-year-old man died from hypothermia while climbing Mount Seorak, and two other hikers were barely rescued. The Korea National Park Service on Tuesday imposed an entry ban into most of Korea’s national parks, including those to Mount Seorak, Mount Odae and Mount Chiak, due to heavy snow and extreme cold.
Slippery snow-covered roads caused one reported traffic accident on Honam Expressway; and 25 vehicles were involved in a pile-up around 12:48 p.m. on Tuesday near the Jeongeup Rest Area in the Seoul-bound lanes of Honam Expressway, between Jeongeup IC, North Jeolla, and Taean IC, South Chungcheong. One person was critically wounded and two slightly injured.
BY KANG KI-HEON [enational@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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