"Cold, So Cold" Nationwide Severe Cold Wave... Daegwallyeong Feels Like -30 Degrees

Lowest Temperature This Winter on the 23rd... Wind Chill Makes It Feel Even Colder

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The perceived temperature in Seoul has dropped below minus 20 degrees Celsius, marking the coldest day of this winter so far.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a cold wave advisory has been issued for most regions nationwide on the 23rd. The advisories are divided into warnings and watches; a cold wave warning or watch is issued when the morning low temperature remains below minus 15 degrees or minus 12 degrees Celsius respectively for two or more days, or when temperatures drop sharply, causing expected significant damage.

The nationwide morning low temperatures are forecasted to range from minus 19 to minus 3 degrees Celsius, and daytime highs from minus 12 to 1 degree Celsius. The morning low temperatures by region are Seoul minus 14 degrees, Incheon minus 12 degrees, Suwon minus 14 degrees, Chuncheon minus 19 degrees, Gangneung minus 11 degrees, Cheongju minus 11 degrees, Daejeon minus 11 degrees, Jeonju minus 9 degrees, Gwangju minus 7 degrees, Daegu minus 9 degrees, Busan minus 6 degrees, and Jeju 1 degree Celsius.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

With the cold wind blowing, the perceived cold is even lower. The wind chill in Seoul is minus 22 degrees, Chuncheon minus 20 degrees, and Daegwallyeong has dropped below minus 30 degrees. Wind chill is an index that indicates the level of cold felt by people or animals exposed to wind and cold on their skin, calculated by measuring both temperature and wind speed.

The expected daytime highs are Seoul minus 9 degrees, Incheon minus 9 degrees, Suwon minus 8 degrees, Chuncheon minus 9 degrees, Gangneung minus 4 degrees, Cheongju minus 6 degrees, Daejeon minus 4 degrees, Jeonju minus 3 degrees, Gwangju minus 2 degrees, Daegu minus 1 degree, Busan 1 degree Celsius, and Jeju 3 degrees Celsius.

Currently, a heavy snow advisory has been issued for Chungcheong, Honam, and Jeju regions. In these areas, strong snowfalls of 3 to 5 cm per hour are expected intermittently.

This severe cold wave is expected to ease starting from the weekend, but colder-than-average weather will continue.

Meanwhile, caution is advised regarding cold-related illnesses during winter. Sudden temperature drops can cause health issues such as hypothermia, frostbite, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. It is best to avoid outdoor activities in cold weather as much as possible and to check weather information such as wind chill before going out. Wearing thermal underwear or layering thin clothes, along with gloves, scarves, hats, and masks, is also effective in preventing illnesses.

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