Temperatures are forecast to rebound over the weekend, rising to about 3 deg C above seasonal norms. - AFP
SEOUL: Temperatures dropped sharply across South Korea on Dec 3 as a mass of Arctic air moved south, triggering cold wave advisories for Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province and the Chungcheong provinces, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
Morning lows ranged from minus 11 deg C to minus 1 deg C nationwide, with even colder conditions forecast through Dec 5.
A cold wave advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to remain below minus 1 deg C for at least two consecutive days, or when a rapid temperature drop is likely to cause damage.
Seoul is expected to see even lower temperatures on the morning of Dec 4 and could record its first snowfall of the winter later in the day, forecasters said.
Heavy snow warnings were issued early on Dec 3 for coastal areas of Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces and parts of Jeju Island, where snow is expected to intensify overnight and again on Dec 5.
The KMA projected snow accumulations of 3cm to 8cm along the west coast and 1cm to 5cm inland, with 3cm to 10cm possible on Jeju Island.
The cold snap is being driven by air colder than minus 35 deg C descending from the north, sending temperatures tumbling by 5 deg C to 10 deg C from the previous day. Wind gusts reaching 70kph are expected in many areas, pushing felt temperatures even lower.
From the afternoon of Dec 4, an upper-level trough passing over North Korea is expected to bring additional snow to central regions.
About 1cm is forecast for Seoul, Incheon and western Gyeonggi Province, with 1cm to 5cm likely in eastern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province’s Yeongseo region. Depending on local temperature shifts, some areas may see a mix of rain and snow.
The cold is expected to ease gradually from the afternoon of Dec 4, but chilly conditions will persist through Dec 5.
Temperatures are forecast to rebound over the weekend, rising to about 3 deg C above seasonal norms. - The Korea Herald/ANN
