South Korea blanketed by heavy overnight snow
Seoul, Feb 2
Heavy snow blanketed South Korea overnight Monday, disrupting the morning commute, with snowfall forecast to continue in eastern and southern parts of the country, the weather agency said.
A heavy snow advisory was lifted for Seoul at 4 a.m. (local time), but city officials mobilised snow removal trucks throughout the early morning to spread deicing agents and minimise inconveniences to commuters.
The city issued a mobile alert at 6 a.m. to warn of slippery roads due to the overnight snow and advise commuters to use public transportation, reports Yonhap news agency.
Some parts of the wider capital area are expected to see light snow of less than 0.1 centimetre in the morning, while other parts of the nation will see more snowfall, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
The eastern islands of Ulleung and Dokdo are forecast to receive 5-10 cm of snow, while parts of the southwestern provinces of South and North Jeolla will see snowfall of 3-8 cm.
Meanwhile, the eastern province of Gangwon, the central city of Daejeon, and parts of the southeastern provinces of South and North Gyeongsang are expected to see 2-7 cm of snow.
Most parts of the nation will see cloudy skies before clearing up later in the day.
As of 5 a.m., the temperature stood at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, minus 3.7 degrees Celsius in the western port city of Incheon, minus 3.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern city of Gwangju and minus 5.9 degrees Celsius in the southeastern city of Daegu.
Daily highs are expected to reach minus 1 to plus 6 degrees Celsius.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Reading about heavy snow in Seoul while sitting in Mumbai's 28°C weather is quite a contrast! 😅 Hope the commute gets easier for them. The mobile alert system for slippery roads is a good idea.
They mention Dokdo island. For those who don't know, it's a disputed territory between South Korea and Japan. Interesting they included it in a weather report. The article is otherwise straightforward, but that detail stood out from an Indian perspective where we have our own territorial sensitivities.
The level of detail in the forecast is commendable – right down to 0.1 cm predictions. Makes me wish our IMD updates were this granular for different parts of our cities. Wishing safety to all affected.
Heavy snow can be so disruptive. Reminds me of the chaos in Shimla or Kashmir when it snows heavily here. At least they have the infrastructure for removal. Hope people there are staying warm and indoors if possible.
A respectful criticism: The article is very factual but reads a bit like a raw weather bulletin. Could use a human touch – maybe a quote from a commuter or a shopkeeper affected by the snow. Just a thought.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.