On the 16th, one day before Lunar New Year's Day, skies across the country will start mostly cloudy and gradually clear.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 15th, on the 16th, as a high-pressure system over northern China expands, winds will be blocked by the Kaema Plateau and turn, producing an easterly flow along the East Coast. In this process, moisture from over the East Sea will feed precipitation clouds that are expected to move into the East Coast.
Under this influence, snow or rain may fall in the Gangwon East Coast and mountains, North Gyeongsang East Coast and northeastern mountains, Busan, and Ulsan.
Expected snowfall is as follows: ▲ Gangwon mountains 3–8 cm (10 cm or more in some areas) ▲ Gangwon East Coast 1–5 cm ▲ North Gyeongsang northeastern mountains 1–3 cm ▲ North Gyeongsang northern East Coast less than 1 cm. Expected rainfall is as follows: ▲ Gangwon East Coast and mountains 5–15 mm ▲ North Gyeongsang northern East Coast and northeastern mountains around 5 mm ▲ Ulsan (through the 17th) and South Gyeongsang East Coast less than 5 mm ▲ Busan, Ulleung Island, and Dokdo around 1 mm.
With snow and rain, the dry weather advisory currently in effect mainly along the East Coast may be lifted in some areas.
The Korea Meteorological Administration urged extra caution for traffic safety, noting that visibility may be reduced and roads may be slippery due to snow and rain. In particular, black ice is expected to appear in many places.
Morning lows on the 16th are forecast at -6 to 4 degrees, with daytime highs at 4 to 13 degrees. By region, the forecast lows are: ▲ Seoul -2 degrees ▲ Chuncheon -5 degrees ▲ Daejeon -3 degrees ▲ Gwangju -1 degree ▲ Jeju 4 degrees.
Fine dust that has persisted in recent days is expected to largely dissipate. Nationwide fine dust concentrations are forecast at "good" to "moderate" levels.
However, North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, and Jeju will be at "unhealthy" levels until dawn, and Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang will be at that level until morning.