Overview
- Temperatures plunged as Arctic air settled over the peninsula, with Seoul hitting minus 11.8 C on Jan. 20 and minus 13 C on Wednesday as the wind chill fell to minus 16 C.
- The Korea Meteorological Administration issued cold wave warnings for parts of Gyeonggi and large sections of Gangwon, with advisories covering most other regions including Seoul.
- The Interior Ministry raised the cold wave crisis alert to the caution level and activated emergency responses, stepping up patrols to protect homeless people and older residents living alone.
- Forecasters project morning lows nationwide of roughly minus 17 to minus 4 C on Wednesday and highs from minus 7 to 3 C, with the cold expected to persist through the weekend and peak Thursday.
- Heavy snowfall is forecast for the western Jeolla coast and Jeju, with advisories in effect and totals that could reach up to 30 centimeters on Ulleung and Dokdo and more than 25 centimeters in Jeju’s mountains.