South Korea: Cold and snow impacting daily life and transportation

Event

Intense cold gripped South Korea on Thursday, January 11, with temperatures -10°C (14°F) or colder in much of the country. In the capital Seoul, a wind chill of -16°C (3,2°F) was recorded in the morning hours (local time). Lows dropped to -15°C (5°F) in Chuncheon, -13°C (8,6°F) in Seoul, -12°C (10,4°F) in Daejeon, -7°C (19°F) in Gwangju, and -6°C (21°F) in the southern port city of Busan. Snow fell in South Chungcheong province, the Jeolla provinces, and Jeju. Runways at Jeju Airport (CJU) were temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall on Thursday morning, resulting in the suspension of flights for several hours. Extreme snowfall warnings remain in place in these provinces as of Thursday evening.

Context

The cold weather is being caused by a large area of high pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere near Alaska, driving cold Arctic air to the country. Frigid conditions are expected to last into Friday, with a gradual warming beginning over the weekend.

Advice

Authorities are warning the population of the risk of frost bite and hypothermia, urging people to take necessary precautions when engaging in outdoor activities. Individuals present in this East Asian country are advised to adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.