Heavy snow expected even as temperatures climb

Korea braced for a cold morning on Monday, with the mercury plunging to as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) across the peninsula.

Bundled-up residents walk in the streets of Jongno District in downtown Seoul as a cold wave swept through the capital on Monday morning. Morning lows in the capital fell to as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit). [YONHAP]

Korea braced for a cold morning on Monday, with the mercury plunging to as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) across the peninsula.

In Seoul, morning lows dipped to minus 10 degrees Celsius, around 5 degrees lower than average annual temperatures.

Most cold wave advisories issued in parts of the country, including Pocheon in Gyeonggi, Gongju in South Chungcheong and Cheorwon in Gangwon, were lifted Tuesday morning. However, daytime temperatures across the nation hovered between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures are expected to recover gradually on Tuesday, but heavy snow or rain is anticipated nationwide, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The KMA advised residents to take public transportation as much as possible, as heavy snow is forecasted to fall heavily in the greater Seoul area, including Gyeonggi and Incheon, during rush hours in the morning and afternoon.

A heavy snow watch is expected to be issued in the greater Seoul area and parts of Gangwon Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night, rain or snow will expand nationwide.

Over 10 centimeters (4 inches) of snow is expected to accumulate in the capital through Wednesday. Snow or rain will start falling in the greater Seoul area, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon and the west coast of South Chungcheong from 6 a.m. Tuesday.

As the snow clouds move eastwards, the weather forecaster expects the snow will continue in the country's eastern regions through Wednesday and stop.

Around 3 to 8 centimeters of snow are anticipated in the greater Seoul area, with heavily affected areas seeing over 10 centimeters of snow through Wednesday. Parts of Gangwon may experience over 20 centimeters of snow during the same period.

The inland areas of Gangwon and Gyeonggi will see 5 to 10 centimeters of snow, which may pile up to over 15 centimeters in regions heavily affected by the snow.

Due to subzero temperatures, the snow forecasted to pound Seoul is anticipated to stay frozen during the day. Rain or sleet may fall in parts of Chungcheong and southern regions on Tuesday as the mercury hits above zero degrees Celsius.

Precipitation on the east coast of North Gyeongsang, Busan and Ulsan will range between 10 to 40 millimeters (0.3 to 1.6 inches). Chungcheong and Jeolla may see 5 to 20 millimeters of rain from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Temperatures on Tuesday will recover to normal, with morning lows nationwide hovering between minus 7 to 0 degrees Celsius. Midday highs will range between 1 to 10 degrees Celsius.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]