Spring rains dampen Korea as warmer weather arrives

Environment

Published: 05 Mar. 2024, 15:51 Updated: 05 Mar. 2024, 15:57

Spring rains dampen Korea as warmer weather arrives

People visit Haeundae Beach in Busan to enjoy the spring-like weather on Sunday. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

Korea woke up under a cloudy sky on Tuesday as spring showers were anticipated nationwide. Tuesday marked Gyeongchip in Korea, the first day of a new season under the lunar calendar, which signifies the end of hibernation.

Rain that began falling in southern regions and the Chungcheong area was forecast to expand to the greater Seoul area, including Gyeonggi and Incheon, and Gangwon, by Tuesday afternoon.

Parts of Gangwon with cold temperatures were anticipated to experience heavy snowfall on the same day.

Heavy snow advisories were issued in mountainous areas of Gangwon as of 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Heavy snow advisories are issued when over 5 centimeters (1.9 inches) of snow are anticipated to accumulate over 24 hours.

The KMA said around 5 to 15 centimeters of snow will accumulate in Gangwon’s mountainous regions and 1 to 3 centimeters on the east coast of northern Gangwon through Wednesday.

During the same period, the greater Seoul area is expected to see less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) of rain, while Gangwon will see precipitation of 5 to 30 millimeters. In the Jeolla region, around 5 to 20 millimeters of rain will fall through Wednesday.

On Jeju Island, 10 to 40 millimeters of rain is expected to fall, with some parts seeing as much as 60 millimeters of precipitation.

The rain and snow brought to the southern regions and Gangwon’s mountainous areas are mainly due to the low-pressure air mass passing the southern seas of the Korean Peninsula, the KMA said.

People clear the snow that fell in Geochang County, South Gyeongsang, on Tuesday. [GEOCHANG COUNTY OFFICE]

Warmer weather is expected for the next few days as warm southerlies arrive in the country.

Tuesday’s morning low rose to 6.3 degrees Celsius (43.3 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul, more than 8 degrees Celsius higher than the previous day. Midday highs were expected to hover between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius, higher than the average annual temperatures. The mercury is expected to drop over the week but will be above annual average temperatures.

Morning lows nationwide will remain between minus 1 and 7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, and midday highs between 4 and 13 degrees Celsius.

Fine dust levels remained between “moderate” and “good” in most parts of the country on Tuesday.

The weather will be slightly chillier over the weekend, with morning lows dropping to minus 5 to 2 degrees Celsius and midday highs hovering between 5 and 12 degrees Celsius, according to the KMA.

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