Winter arrived seemingly overnight in South Korea on Wednesday, with morning temperatures plunging below freezing in many inland regions.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a cold air mass moving south overnight sent temperatures down to minus 3.6 degrees Celsius in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, and minus 2.5 C in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. In Seoul, the morning low fell to 4.3 C, marking the lowest temperature so far this fall.
Frost and ice were also observed in parts of the central inland regions, including Daejeon and Chuncheon.
Morning lows nationwide ranged from minus 2 C to 7 C, while daytime highs were forecast to reach 11 C to 17 C.
Strong wind advisories were in effect along the Jeonnam-Gwangju coast and on Jeju Island, where gusts reached more than 70 kilometers per hour in mountainous areas, through the morning.
The early winter chill is expected to continue into Thursday morning, with lows forecast at 5 C in Seoul, 2 C in Paju and minus 2 C in Daegwallyeong.
Temperatures are expected to gradually rise as rain spreads across most regions from Thursday afternoon, bringing 5 to 20 millimeters of precipitation.
However, another round of cold weather is expected as temperatures begin falling again over the weekend and into early next week. Seoul's morning temperature could drop to as low as 1 C next Tuesday.
As morning temperatures hover around freezing, ski resorts are stepping up preparations for winter season, making artificial snow on slopes and inspecting facilities ahead of their openings.
Mona Yongpyong, a ski resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, has begun snowmaking operations ahead of the winter season. The resort is producing artificial snow on its slopes as weather conditions permit, while also inspecting ski lifts and other facilities, officials said.
cjh@heraldcorp.com
