'Average 3.1 Degrees' Unusually Warm Last Winter... Highest Since 1973

KMA Announces Winter Cheong Weather Characteristics
Record High, Low, and Average Temperatures All Ranked 1st
More Rain Than Snow...Lowest Snowfall Recorded

Norway Reaches 19°C in January, Brazil Hits 39°C
Snow in Egypt for the First Time in 100 Years and Over 90 Dead in Pakistan Due to Heavy Snowfall

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Last winter, abnormal climate phenomena occurred in several countries around the world, including South Korea.

According to the '2019 Winter Weather Characteristics' announced by the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 4th, the average temperature nationwide last winter was 3.1 degrees Celsius, the highest since the nationwide meteorological observation network was expanded in 1973.

The average highest and lowest temperatures also set record highs at 8.3 degrees and -1.4 degrees respectively. There was almost no snowfall. Precipitation was 168.1 mm, the third highest since 1973, but snowfall recorded the lowest with a maximum snow depth of 5.3 cm. Although there was cold weather in December and February, it was brief, and January experienced frequent inflows of warm southern winds, causing high temperatures nationwide and recording the fewest cold days in a winter season.

The high temperature phenomenon last winter was not limited to South Korea. Abnormal high temperatures also occurred mainly in Northern Europe and western Russia. Moscow, Russia recorded its highest December temperature in 130 years, and Norway reached 19 degrees Celsius in January, the highest ever observed. Particularly in Australia, strong heatwaves and widespread prolonged wildfires caused significant damage throughout the winter starting from October last year. Brazil's highest temperature approached 39 degrees Celsius.

Schematic diagram of the global atmospheric circulation from December 2019 to February 2020 (Provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration)

On the other hand, abnormal low temperatures and heavy snowfall occurred in Thailand, northern India, and Egypt. Northern India experienced the coldest winter in 118 years, and Egypt saw snowfall in January for the first time in 100 years. In Pakistan, heavy snowfall caused an accident resulting in about 90 deaths. Thailand recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, with 10 fatalities. Eastern Canada recorded a maximum snowfall of up to 75 cm.

The Korea Meteorological Administration analyzed that the jet stream, which traps cold air in the Arctic, formed close to the pole, preventing the development of the cold and dry Siberian high pressure, resulting in weak cold northwesterly winds blowing toward South Korea. A KMA official explained, "The sea surface temperature of the subtropical western Pacific was higher than normal, maintaining a warm and humid high-pressure system in the southern part of South Korea," adding, "According to the atmospheric flow trying to balance the Earth, areas that were warm experienced abnormal low temperature phenomena instead."

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