Brrr... Seoul issues first cold wave warning as nationwide temperatures nosedive

The nation was gripped by plummeting temperatures on Tuesday with a cold wave warning issued for the first time this year in Seoul the previous day.

People head to work in Jongno District, central Seoul, amid the cold weather on Feb. 04. [YONHAP]

The nation was gripped by plummeting temperatures on Tuesday, as a cold wave warning issued for the first time this year in Seoul Monday evening.

Morning low temperatures hit minus 11.5 degrees Celsius (11.3 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul, 5 degrees lower than the same day last year. Wind chill temperatures dropped even further to minus 18.7 degrees due to strong winds.

Tuesday morning temperatures in other regions also dropped 5 to 10 degrees from the previous day, with Daegwallyeong, Gangwon at minus 17.5 degrees, Paju, Gyeonggi at minus 14.5 degrees, Incheon at minus 11.3 degrees, Cheongju, North Chungcheong at minus 10.9 degrees and Suwon in Gyeonggi at minus 10.8 degrees.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued cold wave advisories across most regions in the country on Monday, with the KMA declaring cold wave warnings in certain areas, including Nowon, Seongbuk and Gangbuk districts in northeastern Seoul.

A cold wave advisory is issued when the morning low is expected to stay below minus 12 degrees for two days or when a sudden temperature drop is expected to cause significant damage. A cold wave warning is declared when the morning low is forecast to stay below minus 15 degrees for the same period.

The cold snap is forecast to linger throughout the week, with morning lows of minus 12 degrees expected on Wednesday and Thursday. The KMA also expects the temperature to remain lower than the seasonal average throughout next week.

The cold wave started Monday, making it the coldest Ipchun — the traditional onset of spring — in seven years. A cold air mass is moving south, causing temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday to drop significantly to about 5 degrees below seasonal norms. Strong winds will further lower the perceived temperature, making conditions feel even colder.

Strong winds exceeding 55 kilometers per hour (34.2 miles per hour) are expected in most regions. Gusts of over 70 kilometers per hour are anticipated in coastal areas, mountainous regions and Jeju Island into Wednesday morning, with gusts reaching up to 90 kilometers per hour in higher-altitude areas.

Snowfall intensified in some mountain regions on Monday night and continued on Tuesday, with an accumulation of 1 to 3 centimeters (0.39 to 1.18 inches) per hour.

The KMA forecast that up to 30 centimeters or more of snow will accumulate in Jeolla, 40 centimeters or more in the mountainous areas of Jeju Island and up to 50 centimeters or more on Ulleungdo by Thursday.

A heavy snow advisory has been issued across Jeju on Tuesday, with significant snowfall leading to road closures and traffic restrictions. On Mount Halla, up to 112 centimeters of snow has accumulated, prompting authorities to close all hiking trails and block major mountain roads.

According to Jeju Provincial Police’s traffic control updates, vehicle access was restricted on Route 1139 and 1131 as of 2:50 p.m.

Reports indicate that 2 centimeters of snow had accumulated on these roads as of Tuesday afternoon, with 0.5 centimeters of ice formation.

Flights to and from Jeju were also canceled. As of 10:30 a.m., eight flights from Jeju to Gwangju Airport and Gunsan Airport in North Jeolla have been canceled due to worsening weather conditions at the destination airports.

"Snowfall will significantly reduce visibility, and many roads will become icy, so drivers must reduce speed and take extra caution to prevent accidents," a KMA official said. "Pedestrians should also be mindful of safety, as snow and ice are expected on alleyways, sloped roads and shaded areas." Update, Feb. 4: Added details on Jeju Island traffic and flight control.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]