Heavy Snow in Seoul and Gyeonggi from Night of 31st, Falling Again from Early Morning to Noon on 1st

Up to 7cm Accumulation in Seoul Metropolitan Area, Northern Chungbuk, and Gangwon Inland/Mountain Areas from 31st to 1st
Heavy Snowfall Over 3cm per Hour Expected from 9 PM on 31st
Second Snowfall from Morning to Early Dawn on 1st, Most Areas Clear by Afternoon

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Starting from the night of the 31st, the third day of the Lunar New Year holiday and Monday, heavy snow will fall in Seoul. A second round of snow is expected between the early morning and morning of the 1st, so travelers returning home should pay close attention to traffic safety.

On the 30th, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) held an occasional forecast briefing and announced that heavy snow would fall mainly in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong Province, and the Yeongseo region of Gangwon Province between the 31st and the morning of the 1st.

In particular, from the night of the 31st, Seoul will experience heavy snowfall exceeding 3 cm per hour. The snowfall on the 19th in Seoul was between 1 to 3 cm per hour, but this time the snow will be stronger. The cloud base is over 3 km high, and the temperature range is favorable for efficient snow accumulation, resulting in a larger snow depth relative to precipitation.

Han Sang-eun, a meteorological expert at the KMA, said, "Strong snow is expected to fall for about an hour starting from 9 p.m. on the 31st in Seoul. Although the intensity is strong, the duration is relatively short. After midnight, the western regions will see a lull, and from the early morning of the 1st, snow is expected mainly in Chungcheong Province, inland Jeolla Province, and Gangwon Province."

The expected snowfall from the 31st to the 1st is ▲2 to 7 cm in the metropolitan area, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, northern Chungbuk, the five western islands, and Ulleungdo and Dokdo (starting from the 30th) ▲1 to 5 cm in Chungcheong Province ▲1 to 3 cm in Jeonbuk, northern Jeonnam, northern and western inland Gyeongbuk, and western inland Gyeongnam.

From the night of the 31st, a long snow cloud band stretching north to south will move from west to east. In Chungcheong Province, the ground temperature is higher than in Seoul and Gyeonggi, so the accumulation rate is expected to be relatively slower. More snow is expected in the inland metropolitan area and Yeongseo region of Gangwon Province, which are affected by terrain.

In the metropolitan area including Seoul and Gyeonggi, a second round of snow is expected between the early morning and morning of the 1st. After the cloud band moves eastward, a low-pressure system with cold air from the northwest will descend, causing the snow that started on the night of the 31st to temporarily weaken, then resume late at dawn, and is expected to stop around 9 a.m.

The snow on the 1st will be lighter than the previous day but will last longer. A meteorological expert said, "Snow will fall mainly in Seoul and Gyeonggi until the morning hours of January 1st, then the clouds will move southeast around 9 a.m., and in most areas, the snow will stop during the afternoon."

With heavy snow falling on the way home, citizens traveling by car should be especially cautious. Strong winds are also expected, so those using air and sea transportation must check flight and sailing information in advance.

From the night of the 31st, a storm warning is expected to be issued for the West Coast, and from the morning of the 1st, for the East Coast. After a strong low-pressure system passes through Korea, cold air will expand over the country, causing high waves at sea.

Following the snow, a cold wave will continue. The morning low temperature in the central region is expected to drop below minus 10 degrees Celsius, indicating severe cold.

A meteorological expert explained, "On February 1st, visibility may be poor due to heavy snowfall during peak travel times, making it difficult to secure sight distance for drivers. From February 2nd, the weather will get colder, and the snow may freeze, so extra caution is needed when driving on icy roads. After the Lunar New Year holiday, cold weather will persist, with temperatures remaining below average until the morning of the 7th, continuing the cold conditions."

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