South Korea is bracing for unusually cold weather as March begins, bringing rain and snow across vast regions. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has issued forecasts predicting significant precipitation beginning on March 1st, with snow expected to accumulate particularly heavily by March 2nd.
According to KMA, the weather on March 1st will start with rain, particularly beginning along the southern coast including Jeju Island. Later, the rain is expected to spread nationwide as the day progresses. Rainfall amounts are projected to range from 5 to 30 mm, with 20 mm likely over the central regions and even higher amounts on Jeju.
The morning temperatures will exhibit considerable variation, with lows around -2 degrees to 7 degrees Celsius, depending on the area. The forecast predicts highs later in the day between 10 and 17 degrees Celsius. Notably, Seoul's temperatures are forecast to start at 5 degrees, with highs reaching up to 13 degrees.
By the evening, the KMA expects the rain to transition to snow across several areas, especially as colder air from the north moves southward. KMA meteorologist Jeong Ye-eun elaborated, "Temperatures on March 1st are set to remain low, with the lowest expected at 0 degrees Celsius. The forecast suggests maximums of 17 degrees depending on the area." This drop will contribute to some notable snowfall, especially for the Central and Gangwon regions.
On March 2nd, conditions are forecasted to worsen, with rain turning to heavy snow. Snowfall could reach as much as 70 cm in the mountainous provinces of Gangwon, where conditions are expected to be particularly severe. KMA has warned of strong winds accompanying the precipitation, with gusts expected to reach 55 km/h (15 m/s), particularly affecting higher elevations. Snowfall rates are predicted to be as high as 3 cm per hour during the peak intensity of the storm.
Many regions will see significant temperature drops, particularly as the cold front settles over the country. Morning temperatures are predicted to be between 2 to 11 degrees, and afternoon highs will be between 8 to 18 degrees. This marked change stands out as especially notable for March, typically warmer as spring approaches.
Finally, KMA's predictions point to air quality concerns, mainly due to increased pollution levels predicted for urban centers like Seoul. Here, the forecast indicates levels of fine dust reaching ‘bad’ conditions, which could prompt health advisories later as the precipitation mixes with pollutants.
Overall, South Korea is preparing for one of its coldest starts to March on record, marked by strong weather patterns. The deployment of cold fronts has seemingly caught many off guard, leading to potential disruptions as communities adapt to these harsh conditions.