Heavy snow forecast for some parts of Korea from Saturday

A park in Busan is submerged in rain on Friday morning. [YONHAP]

Don’t go to Gangwon this weekend.

The national weather agency has strongly advised the public not to travel to the northeastern province from Saturday to Monday due to the possibility of heavy snow, warning that higher elevations in Gangwon could get upwards of 70 centimeters (28 inches).

Korea’s central regions including Seoul will experience rain until Saturday daytime before temperatures drop, with rain becoming snow at night. The snowy weather will continue through early Sunday, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.

The inland areas of Gangwon and North Chungcheong will get snow until Sunday night.

Rain will sporadically fall on the southern regions and Jeju Island until Saturday daytime and steadily fall from Saturday late afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Some inland parts of southern Korea could get rain until Sunday night, the KMA forecast.

From Saturday to Monday, the Gangwon inland and northeastern coastline of North Gyeongsang are expected to receive about 3 to 10 centimeters of snow; Seoul, Incheon, western Gyeonggi and northwestern South Gyeongsang will receive 1 to 3 centimeters of snow; central North Chungcheong, southern North Chungcheong, eastern North Jeolla, southwestern North Gyeongsang and the Jeju higher elevations will receive 1 to 5 centimeters of snow; and eastern Gyeonggi, northern North Chungcheong, northern North Gyeongsang, Ulleung Island and the Dokdo islets will get 2 to 7 centimeters of snow.

At least 17 flights were canceled and 10 flights were delayed at Jeju International Airport on Friday morning as heavy rain pounded the island and country’s southern regions.

More than 40 flights were canceled at Gimhae International Airport in Busan on Friday morning as well.

Three international flights that were supposed to arrive at the Busan airport were diverted to Incheon International Airport, while three other international flights were diverted to Daegu International Airport.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]