-40°C Arctic cold brings a 'March snowstorm'... up to 10 cm in the Seoul metropolitan area tomorrow

Arctic cold air reaching as low as -40°C is passing through the Korean Peninsula, and snowstorms are expected to sweep across the entire country until the 18th. Up to 10 cm of snow is expected to accumulate in the Seoul metropolitan area and surrounding regions.

 

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 17th, heavy snowfall occurred until the morning mainly along the eastern coast of Gangwon and the eastern inland, causing numerous damages. The Gangwon North Gangneung observation station recorded a maximum snow depth of 19.4 cm (the deepest accumulation of snow in a single day). This is the second-highest amount recorded in March since 2008. In Guryongnyeong, a record amount of snow fell, with 42.5 cm accumulating from 1 a.m. the previous day to 7 a.m. the following day, bringing record snowfall to mountainous areas as well.

 

Due to heavy snowfall, a vehicle engaged in snow removal work in Naegok-dong, Gangneung, overturned, and damage continued to occur. Fortunately, the snow eased in the morning, and all heavy snow alerts were lifted.

 

A cold snap appeared in the metropolitan area and other regions. Seoul recorded a minimum temperature of -1.3°C that morning, nearly 4 degrees lower than the average, and with the wind, the perceived temperature dropped to -5°C.

 

On the 18th, strong snow and rain across the country are expected to be accompanied by typhoon-strength winds. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted, "Starting late tonight (17th), rain or snow will begin in the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungnam region, and most parts of the country will experience rain or snow tomorrow (18th)," and "From the afternoon of the 18th, rain or snow will begin in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungnam, and Jeolla regions, and most of it will stop by night."

 

Snowfall of 3 to 10 cm is expected to accumulate in Seoul, the metropolitan area, inland Gangwon, and Chungbuk until the 18th. In the already snow-covered mountainous areas of Gangwon, an additional 10 to 20 cm of snow is expected, with some places receiving over 30 cm of snow. Heavy snow of 5 to 20 cm is also forecasted in the northeastern mountainous areas of Gyeongbuk. Very strong winds exceeding 72 km/h are also expected mainly along the coast, western inland areas, and Jeju Island.

  

Even in mid-March, the widespread snowfall across the country is caused by cold air below -40 degrees coming from the Arctic. When the extremely cold upper atmosphere passes over the West Sea and traverses the Korean Peninsula, a very strong 'ultra-low pressure' system develops in the lower atmosphere. As a result, it brings strong gusts and heavy snow or rain, similar to a typhoon.

 

In particular, heavy snow at the level of a heavy snowfall warning could fall across various parts of the Seoul metropolitan area until the early morning of the 18th, causing a crisis in commuting traffic. U Jin-gyu, a weather service officer at the Korea Meteorological Administration, warned, "In Seoul, depending on the region, a large amount of snow may fall and accumulate before the start of work hours," and added, "Due to severe atmospheric instability, there is also a possibility of gusts or hail, so caution is advised."

 

Most of the snow and rain will stop on the 18th, but the cold snap is expected to continue until the 19th. In Seoul, sub-zero temperatures will appear until the morning of the 19th, but warm winds are expected to blow on the 20th, restoring the average temperatures.

 

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These kinds of weather news keep coming out...

They say it will snow a lot... This is a big problem.