On Christmas Eve, the areas surrounding Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul, are bustling with crowds. As Christmas Day approaches, heavy snowfall is predicted mainly along the southwestern coast of Jeolla Province. Additionally, a mass of cold air descending from the northwest is expected to usher in a severe cold snap across the nation.
Temperatures on Christmas morning are forecasted to be significantly lower than the previous day, dropping to between -8°C and 3°C, while daytime highs may range from -4°C to 8°C. Notably, on December 26, morning temperatures are anticipated to plunge to as low as -17°C, marking the coldest wave of the winter season.
In detail, the predicted morning low temperatures for major cities include: Seoul at -3°C, Incheon at -4°C, Chuncheon in Gangwon at -3°C, Gangneung in Gangwon at 2°C, Daejeon at -3°C, Daegu at -1°C, Jeonju in North Jeolla at -2°C, Gwangju at 0°C, Busan at 3°C, and Jeju at 6°C. Expected daytime highs will see Seoul at -1°C, Incheon at -1°C, Chuncheon at 1°C, Gangneung at 6°C, Daejeon at 3°C, Daegu at 5°C, Jeonju at 3°C, Gwangju at 5°C, Busan at 8°C, and Jeju at 9°C.
The anticipated precipitation over the next two days includes less than 5 mm for the five western islands, along the northern Gangwon coastline on Christmas Day, and around 5 mm for parts of the southern coastal regions. Specific forecasts also predict potential snow advisories for the southwestern coast of Jeolla Province and mountain areas of Jeju Island from the afternoon of December 25 through the morning of December 26, with hourly snowfall expected to reach around 1 cm.
From the 25th to the 26th, snow accumulation forecasts are varied: around 1 cm for the five western islands, between 1 to 3 cm for parts of northern Gangwon, and 1 to 5 cm for southern coastal regions including Sejong and northern Chungcheong. Notably, the Jeolla southwestern coast and regions around Gwangju are expected to see significant snowfall, with more than 10 cm projected in some areas.
Beginning in the early hours of Christmas Day, strong winds exceeding 70 km/h are expected along the western and southern coasts, with gusts of around 55 km/h anticipated in most parts of the country. Fortunately, the air quality is expected to remain good to moderate, thanks to the influence of clean northwesterly winds.
As this holiday season unfolds, people are encouraged to stay warm and safe, especially with the upcoming cold wave creating a wintry landscape across South Korea.