A severe but brief cold snap is expected to grip Korea this weekend as frigid air reaching -40 degrees Celsius flows in from the north, bringing wind chill temperatures down to around -20 degrees Celsius. Heavy snowfall of up to 5 centimeters per hour is forecast for the Honam region and Jeju Island.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Tuesday, morning lows on Wednesday are forecast to range from -18 to -5 degrees Celsius nationwide, with afternoon highs of -4 to 3 degrees Celsius. Most regions will see morning temperatures between -15 and -5 degrees Celsius, with strong winds making it feel even colder.
From early Wednesday morning through late morning, intense snowfall of 1-3 centimeters per hour is expected to concentrate on western Jeolla Province and Jeju Island. Black ice and slippery road conditions are likely to develop across multiple areas, requiring extra caution for weekend travel and outdoor activities.
The snow and cold are expected to continue through Thursday, with wind chill temperatures dropping to around -20 degrees Celsius across central and southern inland areas. Those planning weekend outings or mountain hikes should fully consider the risks of safety accidents due to dropping temperatures, strong winds, and heavy snow.
The sharp temperature drop is caused by a typical winter pressure pattern with high pressure to the west and low pressure to the east, allowing frigid air of around -40 degrees Celsius to flow southward on northern winds.
In response, the KMA has issued cold wave advisories for most of the country including Seoul, with more severe cold wave warnings for northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. Strong wind advisories have been issued for western coastal areas, while dry weather warnings are in effect for the east coast. The cold snap is expected to persist through Monday before gradually easing.
Snow clouds developing from the temperature difference between the atmosphere and sea surface over the Yellow Sea will bring heavy snowfall primarily to the Honam region and Jeju Island. From Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, snowfall of 1-3 centimeters per hour is expected, with some areas potentially receiving more than 5 centimeters of intense snow.
Cumulative snowfall is forecast to reach 3-8 centimeters along the western Jeolla coast, with some areas exceeding 10 centimeters. Jeju's mountainous regions could see 10-20 centimeters, with totals exceeding 25 centimeters in some locations. Ulleungdo and Dokdo, where preliminary heavy snow advisories were issued as of Tuesday afternoon, may receive up to 40 centimeters of accumulated snow.
