Heavy snow is forecast to fall across most of the country this weekend. The Korea Meteorological Administration said at a briefing on Jan. 8 that "on Jan. 10-11, the weekend, weather with rain and snow, strong winds, high seas, and a cold snap is expected."
Snow will begin in earnest between the early morning and morning on Saturday, the 10th. At that time, in some parts of the capital area such as the west coast and Seoul, it will start as "sleet," then change to snow in the afternoon. In inland central areas such as eastern Gyeonggi, where temperatures are low, it will fall as snow from the start.
Expected snowfall on the 9th-10th is 3-8 centimeters in eastern Gyeonggi, 1-3 centimeters in Seoul and Incheon, and 1-5 centimeters in western Gyeonggi and the 5 degrees west sea; 3-10 centimeters in inland Gangwon, with 15 centimeters or more in many places such as northern inland Gangwon and the mountains.
In addition: ▲ Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong 1-5 centimeters ▲ Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla 2-7 centimeters ▲ southwestern and northern inland North Gyeongsang, northeastern mountains, western inland South Gyeongsang, Ulleungdo and Dokdo 1-5 centimeters ▲ Daegu, central inland North Gyeongsang, and the northern East Sea coast around 1 centimeter ▲ Jeju Island mountains 1-5 centimeters.
In particular, in the capital area, snow of 1-3 centimeters per hour will be concentrated in eastern Gyeonggi on the morning to afternoon of the 10th. In inland and mountainous Gangwon, heavy snow will fall from the early morning to afternoon on the 10th; in North Jeolla from afternoon to night; and in Gwangju Metropolitan City and South Jeolla at night. These areas are generally forecast for 1-3 centimeters of snow per hour, with some places seeing 5 centimeters per hour. Snowfall of 1-3 centimeters per hour is heavy enough to make the building or traffic light right in front of you look blurry.
An official at the Korea Meteorological Administration said, "In some areas, special weather advisories could be raised to heavy snow warning levels," adding, "Snow could fall even in the western inland of North and South Gyeongsang." However, "there is no snow in Busan," the official said.
Temperatures will drop sharply as well. In particular, on the 10th-11th, strong winds will make it feel even colder. The forecast low temperatures for Seoul are minus 5 degrees on the 9th, 1 degree on the 10th, minus 9 degrees on the 11th, minus 8 degrees on the 12th, minus 5 degrees on the 13th, and minus 8 degrees on the 14th.
Precipitation will end after sleet falls in the central region from the afternoon of the 12th to the 13th, which are Monday and Tuesday next week.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said, "During the weekend, strong winds and high seas across all waters could be upgraded to advisories at warning levels, creating very dangerous conditions," and noted, "Caution is needed not only for maritime and onshore safety accidents, damage from heavy snow, icy roads and black ice, and road traffic safety, but also for fire prevention due to dry conditions."