Seoul sees its first ice this year

Icicles are pictured in Daegwallyeong on Wednesday when the temperature in the region dropped to minus 4.6 degrees Celsius (23.72 degrees Fahrenheit). [YONHAP]

Seoul experienced its first ice of the year.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that the first frost and first ice of this year has come to Seoul and Suwon.

Seoul's first ice came 20 days later than last year and five days later compared to average years.

The frost was observed in the city 21 days later than the previous year and 11 days later than average years.

As of Wednesday 8 a.m., the daily lowest morning temperature in Seoul was 1.8 degrees Celsius (35.24 degrees Fahrenheit). The inland areas' lowest temperatures were mostly below 5 degrees Celsius, with Daejeon and Daegu at 1.4 and 2.1 degrees Celsius, respectively. Busan's record was 8.1 degrees Celsius.

As cold air from the northwest of the peninsula grips the country, the daily lowest temperatures marked 2 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than Tuesday.

In the daytime, the temperature will climb and be around the average years.

From Friday noon, the temperatures will plummet. With 2 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than average years, the cold will last over the weekend.

The KMA said North Gyeonggi, Gangwon and inland areas of the country will experience frost on Friday and subzero temperatures.

BY IM SOUNG-BIN, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]