The bitter cold of minus 10 degrees Celsius that arrived with the New Year is expected to gradually ease starting tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures will slowly rise, then the cold will return in the middle of next week.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said in a forecast briefing on the 2nd that "on Saturday the 3rd, the cold air will gradually weaken, and the snow along the Jeolla west coast will also weaken," adding, "most areas will see the snow stop tomorrow morning, but drivers should watch for black ice and icy roads."
On this first commute of the New Year, morning lows across many parts of the country fell to minus 10 degrees Celsius, prompting cold wave advisories for Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, North Jeolla, Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu and Sejong. This cold is expected to last through the morning of the 3rd. Then, from the afternoon, temperatures will rise and gradually return to near the seasonal average.
In Seoul, the low dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius in the morning, then is forecast to rise to -6 on the 3rd, -5 on the 4th, -5 on the 5th, -5 on the 6th and -3 on the 7th. Highs are expected to be -3 on the day, 2 on the 3rd, 3 on the 4th, 2 on the 5th and 4 on the 6th.
Around Wednesday the 7th, the cold will return, but temperatures will not fall as much as yesterday and today.
Snow is expected in some areas the next day and around the middle of next week. The Korea Meteorological Administration said, "On the 3rd, flurries are expected along the southern Gyeonggi west coast, the Chungcheong region and the North Jeolla west coast," adding, "on the 7th, Jeju Island and the Jeolla west coast, and on the 9th to 10th, snow or rain will fall mainly in central regions."
Meanwhile, the air will remain very dry mainly in the eastern part of the Korean Peninsula for the time being. With dry weather advisories expected to continue, extra caution is needed to prevent wildfires and other fires.