SEOUL: The season’s coldest temperatures swept over South Korea on Thursday (Jan 9) with a cold wave advisory issued in most parts of the country, as morning temperatures dipped below minus 10 deg C. The temperatures are likely to drop further on Jan 10.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), a cold wave advisory took effect in most parts of the country on the morning of Jan 9.
As at 8am local time on Jan 9, the lowest temperature in Seoul was recorded at minus 10.2 deg C, with strong winds making wind chill temperatures dip as low as minus 16.7 deg C, according to the state weather agency.
Other than Seoul, Daegwallyeong and Cheorwon in Gangwon Province saw temperatures dip as low as minus 16.9 deg C and minus 13.6 deg C respectively. Dongducheon and Paju in Gyeonggi Province also saw temperatures fall as low as minus 12.9 deg C and minus 12.4 deg C, respectively.
Temperatures below freezing were also witnessed in other cities in southern parts of South Korea. In Gwangju, temperatures fell to as low as minus 6.8 deg C while temperatures reached below minus 6.1 deg C and minus 4.7 deg C in Ulsan and Busan, respectively.
“Many parts of the country recorded their lowest temperatures of this winter,” said Kim Young-joon, a KMA official, during the agency’s press briefing on Jan 9.
“Temperatures dipping below minus 20 deg C were seen in some mountainous regions of Gangwon Province. In North Jeolla Province and North Gyeongsang Province, temperatures ranging between minus 15 deg C and minus 10 deg C were also witnessed.”
According to the KMA, the cold snap is expected to reach its peak on Jan 10, with morning lows estimated to range between minus 21 deg C and minus 5 deg C nationwide.
Daytime temperatures on Jan 10 are expected to range between minus 6 deg C and 4 deg C, a 1 deg C to 2 deg C decrease compared with temperatures on Jan 9.
The South Chungcheong and Jeolla Provinces, as well as mountainous regions on Jeju Island, are also forecast to receive snow until Jan 10, with western coastal areas along North Jeolla Province expecting to receive up to 20cm of snow until Jan 10.
Currently, heavy snow warnings are issued across the South Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces and mountainous regions on Jeju Island. As at Jan 9, all three regions had experienced four consecutive days of snowfall.
Though subject to changes, the KMA estimated that temperatures nationwide will be similar to that of previous years from Jan 12, although extreme cold could grip the nation once again on Jan 16. - The Korea Herald/ANN
