January Midwinter Is a Thing of the Past... Average Temperature 2.8 Degrees Warmer

Cold Snap Forecasted for Early Spring Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The mild weather throughout January will suddenly turn cold around Ipchun (February 4), the start of spring.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 31st, the average temperature from January 1 to 30 this year was 2.8 degrees Celsius, exceeding 2 degrees for the first time since weather observations began in 1973. The highest and lowest temperatures in January are also expected to set extreme records. The average of the highest temperatures for the entire month of January until the 30th was 7.6 degrees Celsius, much higher than the normal average of 3.3 degrees. The average lowest temperature was also -1.1 degrees, 4.6 degrees higher than the normal average of -5.7 degrees.

January has traditionally been the coldest month of winter. According to normal temperatures, December averages 1.5 degrees, January -1.1 degrees, and February 1.1 degrees. Although January has recorded above freezing temperatures before, exceeding 2 degrees by such a margin is unprecedented. The Korea Meteorological Administration views this as an unusual phenomenon resulting from the continuity of climate change.

Although Ipchun, the seasonal division marking the start of spring, falls on February 4, a brief cold snap is expected. Temperatures will drop below freezing starting from the weekend. On February 1, the lowest temperatures are forecasted to be -3 degrees in Seoul and -2 degrees in Incheon. Temperatures will sharply decline after Ipchun. With the expansion of a cold continental high-pressure system, the morning low temperatures on February 5 are expected to be -8 degrees in Seoul, -15 degrees in Incheon, and -7 degrees in Daejeon. The highest temperatures will also not rise much, expected to be around 5 degrees.

The brief cold spell is expected to ease around February 10 as temperatures recover. Afterward, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that temperatures will generally remain higher than normal. A meteorological official stated, "There is a possibility of precipitation on the morning of Monday, February 3, so we are monitoring the situation," adding, "If it snows, caution is advised for icy roads during the morning commute."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.