When will the cold wave advisory take effect, and which areas will it cover?

The advisory is set to take effect after midnight Thursday for most inland areas. It is issued from October to April when the morning low is forecast to drop at least 10 degrees from the previous day to 3 degrees or below and to be at least 3 degrees below normal.

Where are frost and ice expected as temperatures fall across South Korea?

Frost is forecast in inland areas. Ice is expected in eastern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous Gangwon Province, North Chungcheong Province, northeastern North Jeolla Province, and inland central and northeastern mountainous areas of North Gyeongsang Province.

How long is the cold weather expected to last, and when will temperatures return to normal?

Temperatures are expected to stay below normal until Friday morning, with normal lows of 5 to 14 degrees and highs of 19 to 22 degrees. They are forecast to return to normal Friday afternoon and rise to slightly above normal on Sunday.

Cold wave advisory set to take effect Thursday night as temperatures drop 10 degrees

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Summary

Temperatures across South Korea are forecast to drop about 10 degrees Celsius by Thursday morning, with parts of northeastern Gyeonggi Province and inland and mountainous Gangwon Province falling below freezing. A cold wave advisory will take effect after midnight Thursday for most inland areas. Morning lows are forecast at 0 to 10 degrees nationwide, while daytime highs will reach 14 to 19 degrees. The cold is expected to ease, with temperatures returning to normal Friday afternoon and rising slightly above normal on Sunday.

Key Facts

The advisory is issued from October to April when the morning low is forecast to fall at least 10 degrees from the previous day to 3 degrees or below and to be at least 3 degrees below normal.
Frost is forecast in inland areas, and ice is expected in eastern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous Gangwon Province, North Chungcheong Province, northeastern North Jeolla Province, and inland central and northeastern mountainous areas of North Gyeongsang Province.
Forecast lows and highs are 5 and 16 degrees in Seoul, 3 and 15 in Incheon, and 3 and 17 in Daejeon.
Temperatures are forecast to vary by 15 degrees or more between morning and afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to remain below normal until Friday morning; normal lows range from 5 to 14 degrees and normal highs from 19 to 22 degrees.

By Park Ung

Published Oct 21, 2026 9:02 pm KST
Updated Oct 21, 2026 10:19 pm KST

A pedestrian walks with arms crossed in Jongno District, Seoul, Oct. 6. Yonhap

Thursday morning temperatures are forecast to drop about 10 degrees Celsius from Wednesday, with parts of northeastern Gyeonggi Province and inland and mountainous Gangwon Province dipping below freezing.

A cold wave advisory will take effect after midnight Thursday for most inland areas. It is issued from October to April when the morning low is forecast to fall at least 10 degrees from the previous day to 3 degrees or below and to run at least 3 degrees below normal.

Morning lows on Thursday are forecast at 0 to 10 degrees nationwide. Frost will form in inland areas and ice in eastern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous Gangwon Province, North Chungcheong Provice, northeastern North Jeolla Province and inland central and northeastern mountainous areas of North Gyeongsang Province.

Daytime highs will stay between 14 and 19 degrees. Temperatures will swing by 15 degrees or more between morning and afternoon.

Forecast lows and highs are 5 and 16 degrees in Seoul, 3 and 15 in Incheon, 3 and 17 in Daejeon, 8 and 17 in Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, 5 and 17 in Daegu, 7 and 18 in Ulsan and 10 and 19 in Busan.

The cold is not expected to last long. Temperatures will stay below normal until Friday morning, with normal lows ranging from 5 to 14 degrees and normal highs from 19 to 22 degrees. Temperatures will return to normal Friday afternoon and keep rising to slightly above normal on Sunday.

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