Heavy Snow and Cold Wave Forecast Over Four Days Starting from the 7th
Up to 3-5 cm of snow per hour in some areas
Up to 40 cm of heavy snow forecast for Chungnam and Jeolla regions
Possibility of Seoul’s first cold wave warning this year on the 9th
Cold snap expected to ease from the 11th, ‘[E-Daily Reporter Jung Yoon-ji] Starting from Tuesday the 7th, a severe cold wave will hit the country due to the influx of cold air from the north of the Korean Peninsula. In the Chungcheongnam-do and Jeolla regions, up to 40 cm of heavy snow is expected. Around the 9th, there is also a possibility that Seoul will have its first cold wave warning of the year.’,
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 6th, snow and rain are expected to begin in the early morning of the 7th on the west coast of Jeollabuk-do, the northern west coast of Jeollanam-do, and Jeju Island, extending to the southern part of Chungnam by the morning. In the evening, snow and rain will also fall in other parts of the Chungnam region, the western inland of Gyeongnam, and the southwest of Gyeonggi. This will continue, fluctuating in intensity over four days until the 10th, with hourly snow and rain reaching up to 3-5 cm in the south of Chungcheong and the Jeolla region.
The expected snowfall on the 7th and 8th is △Jeollabuk-do: 5-15 cm (over 20 cm in the west coast and southern inland) △Jeju Island’s mountainous areas: 5-10 cm (more than 15 cm in some places) △Gwangju, Jeonnam, Chungnam: 3-10 cm (over 15 cm in northern Gwangju and Jeonnam) △Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk central and southern regions, western inland of Gyeongnam, central Jeju: 1-5 cm △Yellow Sea Islands, southwest Gyeonggi: around 1 cm △Ulleungdo, Dokdo: 10-30 cm.
The Korea Meteorological Administration analyzes that this snow and rain will fall heavily due to the influence of continuously descending cold air and the temperature difference between the sea surface and the atmosphere. An anticyclone is stagnating over the north of the Korean Peninsula, bringing in cold air, and the warm sea surface vs. cold air temperature difference is causing large snow clouds to develop. Topographical factors are also contributing.
At the same time, a cold wave warning may be issued for most regions nationwide, including Seoul and inland areas in the central part. During this period, the morning temperatures will drop below minus 10 degrees Celsius, with strong winds leading to even lower wind chills. In Seoul, the morning low on the 9th is forecasted to be minus 12 degrees, and the daytime high minus 7 degrees, possibly resulting in the first cold wave warning of the year. The severe cold is expected to gradually subside starting from the afternoon of Saturday the 11th as temperatures slowly recover.
A representative from the Korea Meteorological Administration advised, “Due to the forecasted heavy snowfall, there is a high risk of collapse of greenhouses and facilities. Caution is advised for vehicles and pedestrians on icy roads, and measures should be taken to prevent freezing and protect vulnerable groups.”