Will It Snow This Christmas?... Higher Chances in Seoul and Central Regions

"Snow Possible in Central Regions Due to Pressure Trough Influence"

This year, the central region including Seoul is highly likely to experience a white Christmas. Jeju Island may see snow on Christmas Eve, December 24.

On the 21st, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecasted in its mid-term outlook that Jeju Island will have rain or snow on the 24th, while other regions will be mostly cloudy. On Christmas Day, the 25th, clouds are expected nationwide.

On the evening of the 20th, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall. Citizens and cars are passing by next to the illuminated tree. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Since it is expected to be mostly cloudy on Christmas and there is still a chance of precipitation, the possibility of snow remains open. The KMA forecasted that one or two upper-level troughs may pass through the atmosphere on the 24th and 25th. As temperatures in the central region are expected to remain below freezing this weekend and on Christmas, the likelihood of snowfall increases.

If affected by the trough, snow may fall in the western areas south of Chungcheong on the 24th, and in the central region on the 25th. If it snows in Seoul on the 25th, it will be the first white Christmas in two years since 2021.

Meanwhile, the cold wave that began on the afternoon of the 20th is likely to be the strongest of this winter. Cold wave warnings have been issued for the Seoul metropolitan area, most of Gangwon Province, and parts of Chungcheong. Cold wave advisories have been issued for most other regions except Jeju and the southern coast.

In Seoul, the minimum temperature on the morning of the 21st is expected to be minus 15 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill of minus 21 degrees. Incheon’s minimum temperature will be minus 13 degrees (wind chill minus 21 degrees), Daejeon minus 13 degrees (minus 16 degrees), Gwangju minus 7 degrees (minus 12 degrees), Daegu minus 9 degrees (minus 14 degrees), Ulsan minus 7 degrees (minus 13 degrees), and Busan minus 6 degrees (minus 12 degrees). Daytime highs will range from minus 10 degrees to 2 degrees Celsius.

However, this cold wave is expected to ease before Christmas. The KMA projected that the 'blocking' pattern, which obstructs east-west atmospheric flow, will begin to dissipate from the 21st, weakening the intensity of the cold air entering the country.

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