Temperatures expected to nosedive Thursday as cold wave approaches

Environment

Published: 18 Dec. 2023, 18:38

Temperatures expected to nosedive Thursday as cold wave approaches

People stand on the snow on Mount Halla in Jeju on Monday. Over 15 centimeters (6 inches) of snow are expected to accumulate in mountainous areas of Jeju through Wednesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. [YONHAP]

Korea is expected to experience the chilliest cold wave yet this winter later in the week, with heavy snow anticipated in the greater Seoul area on Tuesday. The coldest day of the season is likely to arrive on Thursday.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Monday, most parts of the greater Seoul area, including Gyeonggi and Incheon, and the western region of Gangwon, are anticipated to see one to three centimeters (0.39 to 1.18 inches) of snow from Tuesday through Wednesday.

Around five to 10 centimeters of snow will accumulate on Ulleung Island, Dokdo, and Jeju through Wednesday, and one to five centimeters of snow in the southwestern part of Gyeonggi, most parts of Chungcheong, and Jeolla.

The KMA said the snow will mostly fall during the afternoon rush hours on Tuesday, warning regions that have already seen much snow over the weekend, including southern Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong, and Jeolla, to prepare for snow removal.

The heavy snow is likely to arrive as snow clouds form due to the temperature difference between the sea and land surfaces, with the cold air coming in through the Yellow Sea.

Temperatures will slightly rise as snow falls, with most cold wave warnings lifted through Wednesday.

On Tuesday, morning lows will be below-freezing temperatures nationwide, ranging from minus 14 degrees Celsius (7 degrees Fahrenheit) to zero degrees Celsius. However, midday highs will be warmer than the day before as the temperature is expected to hover between one to eight degrees Celsius.

A much stronger cold wave will arrive on Thursday as cold air comes down from the north, causing wind chill temperatures to plummet.

The KMA expects the ice-cold weather will peak on Thursday, with morning lows dipping to as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius. The mercury is likely to nosedive to as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius in Chuncheon, Gangwon, and minus 18 degrees Celsius in Paju, Gyeonggi.

Water gauges in Seoul froze and burst due to the cold weather on Monday. The frozen water gauges are seen collected at a waterworks office in downtown Seoul. [NEWS1]

Cold wave warnings are expected to be issued across the peninsula on Thursday, the KMA said.

As of 6 a.m. on Monday, at least 134 water gauges froze and burst in Seoul and Gyeonggi, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

During a Monday meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, President Yoon Suk Yeol pressed the government to support the livelihoods of those vulnerable to the cold season. The session marked the last weekly meeting between the president and the prime minister this year.

Seoul has been under a cold wave advisory since 9 p.m. on Saturday. Cheolwon County and mountainous areas of Gangwon were issued a cold wave warning as of 3 p.m. Monday.

A cold wave advisory is issued when the morning low falls below minus 12 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive days or when the temperature drops more than 10 degrees Celsius to below minus 3 degrees Celsius.

A cold wave warning is issued when the morning low falls below minus 15 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive days or when the temperature drops more than 15 degrees Celsius to below minus 3 degrees Celsius.

The weather will improve next week as the mercury recovers to average annual temperatures, according to KMA’s forecast.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]