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The cold spell is back on weekend

Posted February. 03, 2018 07:57,   

Updated February. 03, 2018 07:57

한국어

South Korea will have the coldest Ipchun, which marks the beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar, in a decade on Sunday, as another cold spell will sweep the country starting from this weekend.

The frigid high pressure will grip the country with lows dropping to minus 9 degrees Celsius and highs only reaching minus 5 degrees Celsius in Seoul. Daytime temperatures in most parts of the country will remain below zero with minus 3 degrees in Chungju, minus 2 degrees in Sejong and Jeonju, and minus 6 degrees in Cheorwon. Due to a snow cloud developed by the cold air, the Chungcheong provinces and the west coast are expected to get a lot of snow overnight. South Chungcheong, the Jeolla provinces along the west coast, and Jeju Island will see snowfall Saturday afternoon.

The mercury will dip further on Sunday as cold wave intensifies. A bout of frigid air enveloping the country will bring the temperature down to minus 13 degrees in Seoul. Morning lows will drop to about minus 20 degrees in Yangju and Cheorwon. This cold is not unusual since Ipchun usually falls on days between the end of January and the beginning of February. But this year’s Ipchun is unusual in that it will be the coldest one since 2008.

The cold wave is forecast to last until the middle of the next week, and ease from next Thursday, with most parts of the country including the capital city recovering temperatures above zero. On next Friday, when the Winter Olympic begins, the country will likely to see average temperatures.


Mee-Jee Lee image@donga.com