Morning temperatures in Seoul plunged to minus 11 degrees Celsius on Friday, December 26, as a severe cold snap gripped South Korea the day after Christmas. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported this as the season's lowest, with cold wave alerts issued across Gangwon Province. Daytime highs are expected to reach minus 7 to 2 degrees Celsius, with light snow or rain forecast for Jeolla provinces and Jeju Island.
On Friday, December 26, morning temperatures in Seoul dropped to minus 11 degrees Celsius, marking the coldest point of the season so far. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), temperatures across the country included minus 10.5 degrees in Incheon, minus 5.5 in Gwangju, and minus 4.8 in Busan as of 5 a.m. At Hyangnobong Peak in Gangwon Province, readings hit minus 21.3 degrees, with an apparent temperature of minus 35.3 degrees due to wind chill.
The KMA issued cold wave alerts for all of Gangwon Province, as well as northern parts of Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital—the first such warnings this season. Cold air from the northwest caused apparent temperatures to plummet to around minus 20 degrees in Seoul.
Daytime highs are forecasted to range from minus 7 to 2 degrees Celsius nationwide, with Seoul reaching minus 4 degrees, Incheon minus 5, and Busan 2 degrees. The cold spell is expected to persist until Saturday morning.
Light snow or rain is anticipated this morning along the coasts of North Jeolla Province, parts of South Jeolla, and Jeju Island. Jeju is projected to see 5 to 10 millimeters of rain, while 1 to 5 centimeters of snow may fall on South Jeolla's coastal areas.
This post-Christmas chill has brought discomfort to residents after the holiday, prompting authorities to urge precautions against the harsh weather.
