Ice has formed along the Han River in Gwangjin District, Seoul, on December 26, as the first cold wave warning of this winter was issued.
SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A deep cold settled over South Korea on Friday, pushing temperatures in Seoul down to minus 11 degrees Celsius as a post-Christmas cold wave tightened its grip on the country, the national weather agency said.
Seoul has issued its first “freeze alert” for water meters this winter.
By early morning, temperatures had fallen to minus 10.5 degrees in the western port city of Incheon, minus 5.5 degrees in Gwangju in the southwest, and minus 4.8 degrees in the southeastern port of Busan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
On the morning of December 26, as cold wave alerts were in effect across the country and Seoul’s wind chill plunged to minus 20 degrees Celsius, plastic sheets covered the produce stalls at the Garak Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market in Songpa District, Seoul.
The cold was most severe in the eastern mountains of Gangwon Province, where Hyangnobong Peak recorded a low of minus 21.3 degrees. Wind chill drove the apparent temperature there to a punishing minus 35.3 degrees, prompting authorities to issue a cold wave alert covering the entire province.
On the morning of December 26, as heavy snow warnings were issued, officials were preparing the tour train for operation at Donghwa Village in Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City.
Daytime temperatures are expected to recover slightly, ranging from minus 7 to 2 degrees nationwide, the agency said. Light snowfall is forecast along parts of the South and North Jeolla coasts, as well as on Jeju Island, the country’s southern resort destination.
On December 26, the coldest day of this winter so far, commuters wait for the traffic signal at a crosswalk at the Gwanghwamun–Sejong-daero intersection in Jongno District, Seoul, as cold wave warnings are in effect across most parts of the country.
Forecasters urged residents, particularly in colder regions, to take precautions against frostbite and icy conditions as the cold spell continues.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
