A bitter cold wave will continue Monday, with morning temperatures in Seoul plunging to minus 8 degrees Celsius before rising above freezing in the afternoon.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Sunday, morning temperatures across most regions will range from minus 15 to minus 3 degrees Celsius on Monday. Strong winds will make conditions feel even colder.
Cold wave advisories remain in effect for northern and inland southern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, inland Chungcheong, northeastern Jeonbuk, the Gyeongbuk region, and some inland areas of Gyeongnam. Most regions nationwide will stay below freezing Monday morning, with strong winds further lowering the wind chill.
However, temperatures will gradually rise from midday Monday, with afternoon highs reaching 3 to 11 degrees Celsius. As daytime temperatures recover to near-normal levels, the severe cold that persisted through the weekend will ease somewhat.
Air quality is forecast to be "good" in most regions due to clean air inflows. However, foreign fine dust is expected to enter central regions from the afternoon, with daily average air quality in central areas forecast as "moderate."
On Tuesday, rain or snow will fall in southern Jeonnam coastal areas and Jeju Island from the morning, spreading to the Seoul metropolitan area, South Chungcheong, and other southern regions in the afternoon, then to most of the country—excluding Gangwon's east coast—by late afternoon. Morning lows are forecast at minus 7 to 2 degrees Celsius, with afternoon highs of 4 to 9 degrees Celsius.