Cold snap remains unabated

People wait for a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, Feb. 16. AP-Yonhap

Temperatures in Seoul fell to below minus 10 degrees Celsius, Thursday, as a cold snap continued to grip the country, according to the state weather agency.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has issued cold wave alerts for the central inland area, and most parts of eastern Gangwon Province and southeastern North Gyeongsang Province.

As of 8 a.m, temperatures were minus 10.7 C in Seoul, minus 9.7 C in Incheon, minus 10.1 C in Daejeon, minus 7 C in Gwangju and minus 6.6 C in Busan, due to cold air blowing in from the north, according to the KMA.

The Gangwon province country of Cheorwon saw temperatures dip to as low as minus 20.5 C.

The daytime high is expected to rise to between minus 1 C and 4 C across the country, but the apparent temperature will be below zero in most parts due to the icy wind.

The KMA said up to 10 centimeters of snowfall is forecast on the eastern island of Ulleung and the easternmost islets of Dokdo, 7 cm in mountainous area of Jeju Island, and 1 cm in other parts of the southern resort island and western parts of the southwestern Jeolla provinces this morning.

Fine dust levels will be moderate or good, but the atmosphere will be dry in many parts of the country, including Seoul. (Yonhap)