By Kim Se-jeong
From Seoul to Ulsan, precipitation has been exceptionally low this winter and people in remote areas face drinking water shortages.
The severe winter drought is in part due to global warming, according to weather forecasts.
In Seoul, precipitation between Feb. 1 and 18 was only 0.5 millimeters. The most precipitation this year was 3.5 mm when a snowstorm hit Seoul in January.
During the same period, Seoul had a drought warning issued for 15 days. The warning was issued for 13 days for Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and 10 days for Daejeon.
Nationwide, February's average precipitation so far is 2.1 mm, lower than the 18.7 mm average.
In Gangwon Province, the figure is 3.2 mm, only 5 percent of the average amount. Leading up to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games opening, people worried about possible snowstorms in Gangneung and PyeongChang, but that didn't happen. Snowfall was tenfold less this year.
Sokcho is among the hardest hit in Gangwon Province.
Starting Feb. 6, water rationing began for the region's rural villagers. On Tuesday, the city of Sokcho also joined the rationing. City residents should line up to get water from fire trucks every other day. Local authorities said they couldn't say how long this would last.
Gangwon is also suffering from fires. Earlier this month, a wildfire in Sokcho burned down almost 30 hectares of forests.
In western Korea, Boryeong Dam, one of the major sources of drinking and industrial water, is at only 25 percent capacity _ the annual average is 63 percent. Other dams see the same thing happening.
In South Chungcheong Province, garlic farms are suffering from the drought. Coupled with exceptionally low winter temperatures, a local study projected this year's harvest would fall by 60 percent.
"This year, the Korean Peninsula stayed under strong influence of continental anticyclone for a long time. That is dry and cold air which prevented snow from forming," an official from the Korea Meteorological Administration said.
He added snow was anticipated for Thursday evening and Friday morning but will be far from enough to relieve the drought. In Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and the Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions, between one to five centimeters of snow are expected, while the Jeolla region was forecast to have less than one centimeter.
From Seoul to Ulsan, precipitation has been exceptionally low this winter and people in remote areas face drinking water shortages.
The severe winter drought is in part due to global warming, according to weather forecasts.
In Seoul, precipitation between Feb. 1 and 18 was only 0.5 millimeters. The most precipitation this year was 3.5 mm when a snowstorm hit Seoul in January.
During the same period, Seoul had a drought warning issued for 15 days. The warning was issued for 13 days for Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and 10 days for Daejeon.
Nationwide, February's average precipitation so far is 2.1 mm, lower than the 18.7 mm average.
In Gangwon Province, the figure is 3.2 mm, only 5 percent of the average amount. Leading up to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games opening, people worried about possible snowstorms in Gangneung and PyeongChang, but that didn't happen. Snowfall was tenfold less this year.
Sokcho is among the hardest hit in Gangwon Province.
Starting Feb. 6, water rationing began for the region's rural villagers. On Tuesday, the city of Sokcho also joined the rationing. City residents should line up to get water from fire trucks every other day. Local authorities said they couldn't say how long this would last.
Gangwon is also suffering from fires. Earlier this month, a wildfire in Sokcho burned down almost 30 hectares of forests.
In western Korea, Boryeong Dam, one of the major sources of drinking and industrial water, is at only 25 percent capacity _ the annual average is 63 percent. Other dams see the same thing happening.
In South Chungcheong Province, garlic farms are suffering from the drought. Coupled with exceptionally low winter temperatures, a local study projected this year's harvest would fall by 60 percent.
"This year, the Korean Peninsula stayed under strong influence of continental anticyclone for a long time. That is dry and cold air which prevented snow from forming," an official from the Korea Meteorological Administration said.
He added snow was anticipated for Thursday evening and Friday morning but will be far from enough to relieve the drought. In Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and the Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions, between one to five centimeters of snow are expected, while the Jeolla region was forecast to have less than one centimeter.
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