Frigid temperatures grip South Korea as mercury dips to minus 20 deg C
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People walking along the Cheonggyecheon stream during snowfall in Seoul on Jan 7. In Seoul, temperatures have already dipped to this winter’s lowest at around minus 12 deg C.
PHOTO: AFP
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SEOUL – The cold wave in South Korea reached its peak on Jan 10, with temperatures in Gangwon and northern Gyeonggi provinces dropping to around minus 20 deg C.
In Seoul, temperatures have already dipped to this winter’s lowest at around minus 12 deg C, with the wind chill making it feel even more frigid.
The cold wave is expected to persist over the weekend. Temperatures will remain below seasonal averages until Jan 11 before gradually rising to near-normal levels or slightly below starting from Jan 12.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the expansion of a cold continental high-pressure system from northern China will cause temperatures to drop sharply. Daytime highs will remain below 0 deg C across most regions.
The temperature in Pyeongchang, Gangwon province, fell to a bone-chilling minus 24.9 deg C at 7am. Even the southern regions of South Korea experienced severe cold. Morning lows in Gwangju and Busan hit minus 10.1 deg C, while Daegu and Ulsan fell to minus 10.7 deg C and minus 11.2 deg C respectively.
Daytime highs are expected to range from minus 6 deg C to 4 deg C, with most regions hovering near freezing. However, areas like north-eastern Gyeonggi and inland Gangwon province are forecast to remain below minus 5 deg C even during the day.
In addition, the heavy snow in south-west regions caused at least 21 roads to be closed and at least 20 ferries to cancel their trips nationwide, according to a government estimate at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters as at 6am. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
Jeju Island, which has already received significant snowfall, continued to see intermittent snow on Jan 10. Snow was also expected in the late afternoon and evening along the western coastal areas of the Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces.
Snowfall could persist into the morning of Jan 11 along the west coast and Jeju Island. The western coastal areas of Jeolla province may experience heavy snow during the night, with rates of 1cm to 3cm an hour.
By Jan 12, snowfall is predicted to extend to South Chungcheong province, in addition to the western Jeolla coast and Jeju.
Strong winds and high waves are expected across most seas, with the East Sea experiencing powerful swells until Jan 13. Coastal waves may surge over rocks, breakwaters and coastal roads, especially along the east coast. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
