Rare May snow advisory issued in Gangwon as region sees heavy snowfall

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Rare May snow advisory issued in Gangwon as region sees heavy snowfall

Published: 16 May. 2024, 13:11

LEE SOO-JUNG
lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr

Snow covers a trail path on Mount Seorak in Gangwon on Thursday morning. [NEWS1]

Gangwon experienced more than 40 centimeters (16 inches) of snowfall on Thursday, prompting an unprecedented mid-May snow advisory.

Overnight snowfall on Mount Seorak in Gangwon was over 42 centimeters by 6 a.m. on the same day. Hyangro Peak in Goseong County, Gangwon, also received 12.9 centimeters of snowfall by 1 a.m. on Thursday.

The snowfall began on Wednesday evening, leading the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to issue a heavy snow advisory. This marked the first heavy snow advisory issued in mid-May or later since data collection began in 1996.

This marks only the second time in Korean weather history that such a warning has been issued in May, following the first occurrence in 2021.

The advisory was issued for mountainous regions in Gangwon as of 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, becoming effective when more than five centimeters of snowfall is expected.

Weather authorities forecast over 15 centimeters of snowfall in Gangwon’s northern mountainous areas at higher altitudes, which exceed 1,000 meters, until Thursday.

The heavy snow advisory was lifted at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Clear skies are expected on Thursday afternoon, with rain clouds dissipating.

Rain is forecast in the morning for Gyeonggi, inland areas of South Chungcheong and Gangwon, North Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions. Rainfall is expected to persist until daytime in the coastal areas of Gangwon and North Gyeongsang.

The KMA predicts rainfall of less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) for Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong and inland areas of South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang. The inland areas of North Gyeongsang, coastal areas of Gangwon and North Gyeongsang and mountainous parts of Gangwon may receive between 10 and 40 millimeters of precipitation. Northern coastal regions of North Gyeongsang and Dokdo islets could experience rainfall ranging between 20 and 60 millimeters.

Weather authorities cautioned that rain and snowfall could reduce visibility for drivers, urging extra precautions on the road.

Morning temperatures were recorded at 6.9 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul, slightly above 8 degrees Celsius in Gangwon and Incheon, and 10.4 and 10.3 degrees Celsius in Busan and Gwangju, respectively. Jeju Island registered a morning temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius.

Daytime temperatures across the nation are expected to range between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius.

Fine dust concentrations are anticipated to remain between “good” and “moderate” levels, posing no health or respiratory risks to individuals engaged in outdoor activities.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]