December is Near, but 20 Degrees... Warm Winter Continues

As the Arctic Oscillation strengthens, cold air is trapped in the Arctic
Posts about mosquito bites while listening to carols also appear
Fashion industry "Outdoor sales decline" ... Outdoor activity gear increases

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] Despite December, when the full onset of winter cold begins, being just around the corner, warm weather continues. More people are enjoying exercise or going camping in light clothing, and there have even been reports of people bitten by early winter mosquitoes.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, on the 21st, the highest temperatures in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi were 17 degrees Celsius, which is 6.4 degrees higher than the average high of 10.6 degrees. In Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, the temperature reached 19.9 degrees, significantly exceeding the average of 15.1 degrees. The regions of Gwangju, Jeonnam, Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam also saw temperatures far above the average this year.

As warmer days continued from mid-month, the number of people visiting mountains on weekends increased. According to Seoraksan National Park, the number of visitors in November (as of the 21st) was 120,000, four times last year's 30,000. In some areas like Gangneung, although Ip-dong (the start of winter) has passed, there were reports of spring flowers such as forsythia blooming.

Also, while carols are heard outdoors, there have been people reporting mosquito bites. According to Seoul City, the number of mosquitoes collected through the Digital Mosquito Surveillance (DMS) until the second week of November was 1,157, more than double the 457 collected during the same period last year. Various online communities have posts like "There are mosquitoes at the end of November." Mosquitoes stop full activity only when the average daytime temperature drops below 13 degrees Celsius, but at the current average daytime temperatures, mosquitoes can still be active.

Experts attribute the continued warm days to the "Arctic Oscillation." The Arctic Oscillation is a phenomenon where the polar vortex of cold air covering the Arctic fluctuates in strength over periods ranging from several days to several weeks. When the Arctic Oscillation strengthens, the atmospheric vortex speeds up, trapping cold air in the Arctic and preventing cold air from flowing into the Korean Peninsula.

As a warmer-than-average winter continues, the fashion industry is anxious not to miss the "outdoor" market segment. According to Lotte Department Store on the 21st, outdoor sales from November 1 to 13 decreased by 10% compared to the same period last year. Sales of major outdoor brands such as Discovery, K2, Nepa, and Eider declined compared to last year.

Large supermarkets and convenience store industries, whose sales depend on foot traffic, are benefiting. With more people going outdoors, sales of barbecue pork belly, beer, and camping supplies have also increased. According to CU, beer sales at convenience stores near resorts, tourist spots, and rest areas rose by an average of about 12.3% compared to the previous year.

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