Korea is bracing for this year’s first cold morning as subzero temperatures grip the peninsula on Thursday.
People in Korea may have a tough time witnessing the last sunset of the year, with fine dust expected to blanket the peninsula on Sunday. However, the sky will clear on Jan. 1.
Grade 5 vehicles, the lowest in Korea’s five-tier emission standards, will be restricted on Seoul's roads for four months as part of a seasonal effort to improve the city’s air quality.
Korea’s air quality Thursday was the worst this season, with fine dust and ultrafine dust advisories issued in central and southern regions of the country.
Air quality in Korea will be poor Wednesday due to yellow dust blowing in from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The yellow dust coming in with the north westerly wind is coating the peninsula.
Yellow dust descended on Korea on Thursday and was expected to linger through Friday, pushing fine dust levels up in the Seoul metropolitan area and some southern regions.
The level of ultrafine dust was bad or worse only on 17 days last year, the lowest on record, thanks to lower dust levels in China, the environment ministry said Monday.
Fine dust levels will remain high for at least a couple of more days, the KMA said, adding that the pollutants were flying in from China and remaining above Korea due to weak winds.
Korea will try to reduce ultrafine dust levels by 33 percent over the next decade, the government announced Tuesday.
The first ultrafine dust advisory in nine months was issued across Seoul on Thursday, the city government said.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap