Coldest day forecast for Monday

Monday will be the coldest day this winter as the mercury is expected to take a further nosedive and maintain the biting cold wave that hit the nation Sunday.

The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast that temperatures could plummet to as low as -27 degrees Celsius in Chorwon, Kangwon-do and -17 degrees C in Seoul.

Forecast temperatures in other regions are -24 degrees C in Chunchon, -17 degrees C in Suwon, -15 degrees C in Taejon and Chongju, - 12 degrees C in Taegu, -10 degrees C in Kwangju, -9 degrees C in Pusan, and -2 degrees C in Cheju, according to the KMA.

A KMA official said that the daytime high in Seoul would be -10 degrees.

KMA officials said the record low temperature of -17.1 degrees C on Jan. 25, 1990 might be broken Monday.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Seoul was -19.2 degrees C on Jan. 5, 1986.

The KMA forecast that the cold wave would reach its peak Monday before gradually retreating beginning Wednesday. It said annual average temperatures would return on that day.

Suh Young-A sya@donga.com