Though the recent freeze faltered over the weekend, another cold snap is expected to sweep over the peninsula in the latter part of the month, according to the state weather agency Sunday.

Temperatures will drop below zero this week and once again fall drastically during the last few days of the month, due to the combination of the continental high pressure and the Arctic influence.

“The cold continental high pressure remained in a lull until last month but has recently taken an upturn,” said an official of the Korean Meteorological Administration.

“Also, the polar chills have recently been descending to the lower parts of the hemisphere.”

The migration of the Arctic cold, referred to as Arctic oscillation, has been cited as the main culprit behind the recent cold snaps in Asia and Europe, and the record-breaking snowfall in Japan, officials said.

The phenomenon is largely attributed to climate change and its resulting fall of the pressure margin between the Arctic and middle latitude regions.

“Another freezing week is expected from Tuesday, when the mercury all over the nation will be as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius on average,” said the official.

“The subsequent cold snap at the end of the month will be even more severe as the polar chills will expand further by then.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)