The cold wave is expected to temporarily subside this week. It is anticipated that people across the country can witness the last sunset of this year and the first sunrise of the New Year.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, on the 30th, the morning's lowest temperatures will range from minus 4 degrees to 5 degrees Celsius, and the highest temperatures during the day will rise from 7 degrees to 13 degrees Celsius. Key regional temperatures include Seoul (2 degrees·10 degrees), Gwangju (2 degrees·11 degrees), Daejeon (1 degree·10 degrees), Daegu (minus 1 degree·11 degrees), and Busan (5 degrees·13 degrees).
The cold is expected to ease for a while, leading to relatively mild weather. The forecast for the 31st indicates morning low temperatures between minus 7 degrees and 4 degrees Celsius, and daytime high temperatures between 2 degrees and 9 degrees Celsius. On Jan. 1, the morning low is expected to be between minus 8 degrees and 1 degree Celsius, with daytime highs between 6 degrees and 10 degrees Celsius.
A comparatively warm southwesterly wind will rise over the cold air in the inland areas, resulting in a weak development of a precipitation zone over the Korean Peninsula. In Seoul, Incheon, western Gyeonggi, and South Chungcheong, there will be flurries of snow less than 0.1 cm or rain droplets less than 0.1 mm. Some areas of Gangwon and North Gyeongsang will also see snow or rain. The expected snowfall is 1-5 cm in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, and 1 cm in eastern Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, northeastern North Jeolla, northeastern inland and mountainous areas of North Gyeongsang, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo. Expected precipitation is less than 5 mm in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, and around 1 mm in other regions.
There will be no major obstacles in observing the year's end and New Year's sunrises and sunsets. On the 31st, the entire country is expected to be mostly clear, allowing for visibility of the sunset. The Jeolla region and Jeju will have intermittent clouds. On Jan. 1, the east coast of Gangwon and the Gyeongsang region will be clear, providing a bright view of the sunrise. The rest of the regions will have glimpses of the sunrise through the clouds.