This winter's coldest cold wave... On the 9th, -17°C with up to 40cm of heavy snow in Chungnam and Jeolla

 

 

Temperatures are expected to drop significantly this week, bringing the strongest cold wave of the year. Additionally, snow will begin along the southwestern coast on the 7th, with heavy snowfall of up to 40 cm over three days mainly affecting Chungnam and Jeolla regions.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a stationary low-pressure system located north of the Korean Peninsula will cause cold air to continuously flow in for four days from the 7th to the 10th, while the pressure trough will repeatedly strengthen and weaken as it passes through the Korean Peninsula. The stationary low-pressure system refers to a swirling vortex that contains cold Arctic air and rotates counterclockwise, often accompanied by heavy snowfall.

Heavy snow falling at a rate of 3 to 5 cm per hour from the night of the 8th to the 9th

From the morning of the 7th, a cold northwest wind will meet the relatively warm West Sea, forming a cloud band due to the sea surface and air temperature difference, bringing snow or rain to the Jeolla region, southern Chungnam coast, and Jeju. The snowfall area will change constantly, but it is expected to gradually expand to Chungnam, Jeolla, western inland Gyeongnam, and southwestern Gyeonggi.

The expected snowfall from the 7th to the 9th is as follows: △Ulleungdo and Dokdo, Jeju mountain areas 10-30 cm △Jeonbuk 10-20 cm (most areas in Jeonbuk western coast 30 cm, southern inland Jeonbuk over 40 cm) △Chungnam, Gwangju, and Jeonnam 5-15 cm (most areas in southern Chungnam western coast, northern Gwangju and Jeonnam over 20 cm) △Jeju mid-mountain areas 5-10 cm △Daejeon, Sejong, central and southern Chungbuk, western inland Gyeongnam 3-8 cm △Seohae 5 islands 1-5 cm △Southwestern Gyeonggi, inland Daegu and Gyeongbuk, Jeju coast approximately 1 cm.

As of 9 PM on the 7th, heavy snow warnings have been issued for the West Coast of Chungnam and Jeolla provinces, as well as Jeju. Until the morning of the 8th, heavy snowfall of 1 to 3 cm per hour is expected mainly along the Chungnam West Coast, North Jeolla, South Jeolla, and Jeju mountainous areas. Subsequently, from the night of the 8th to the 9th, strong snowfalls of 3 to 5 cm per hour are expected mainly in Chungnam, Jeolla, and Jeju mountainous areas.

On the 10th, as the low-pressure system moves eastward, snow clouds will also be pushed offshore, and an additional 3 to 8 cm of snow is expected to fall mainly in the Jeolla region's island areas. Since heavy snowfall will continue persistently for four days in Chungnam and Jeolla regions, it is essential to be well-prepared for various safety accidents such as collapses caused by the weight of snow.

Strong cold air flow moving southward nationwide cold wave

 

 

A cold wave warning is expected to be issued nationwide during this period. In particular, the 9th is expected to be the coldest day of this winter, with many areas experiencing temperatures below freezing even during the daytime. A meteorological agency official explained, "The upper atmosphere's east-west pressure system flow is not smooth, but the flow of cold air descending from the north to the south is strong."

On the morning of the 8th, temperatures will drop below -10°C mainly in the central region, eastern Jeonbuk, and northern inland Gyeongbuk, and on the morning of the 9th, temperatures will fall to around -15°C, making it very cold. Some mountainous areas in Gangwon are expected to be even colder, with temperatures below -15°C on the 8th and around -20°C on the 9th. The minimum temperatures on the morning of the 9th are expected to be around -12°C in Seoul, -11°C in Incheon, between -17°C and -12°C in inland Gangwon, between -18°C and 16°C in Gangwon mountain areas, and around -12°C in eastern Jeonbuk.

<Source: Korea Herald>