Cold snap accompanied by snow to grip Korea all week

Citizens and tourists walk through Myeong-dong in central Seoul, Sunday, when the morning lows in the capital area dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius. Yonhap

An icy cold wave that spread frigid winds over the weekend is expected to continue throughout the week, meteorologists said Sunday, urging caution over slippery roads, freezing and bursting water meters and other damage.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued cold wave advisories and warnings for most parts of the country, saying the ongoing cold spell is caused by a southward inflow of cold air from Siberia.

Midday highs remained at around minus 8 degrees Celsius across the country on Sunday. On Monday, morning lows in Seoul are forecast to be minus 11 degrees and midday highs minus 2 degrees.

The KMA said the morning lows are expected to hover between minus 17 degrees and 2 degrees nationwide throughout the week, with the midday highs expected to range between plus and minus 8 degrees, much colder than seasonal averages — the morning lows and midday highs on the seasonal averages are minus 9 degrees to 2 degrees, and 2 degrees to 10 degrees, respectively.

“It could feel colder because of the wind chill in addition to plummeting temperatures,” a KMA official said.

The weather agency added that South Chungcheong Province could see snow on Wednesday, North Jeolla Province from Wednesday to Thursday and South Jeolla Province from Wednesday to Friday. Jeju Island could see snow or rain from Wednesday to Friday.

Foreign tourists wearing thick clothes pass by Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, Sunday, when the morning lows in the capital area dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius. Yonhap

Amid the cold weather, the Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) reported damage to a Mokpo Station-bound KTX carrying 788 passengers, saying that windows on the bullet train were cracked at around 10:10 p.m. on Saturday.

KTX train windows are double-glazed, and this time the outer parts of the windows cracked, according to the company. The accident caused no injuries or disruptions to operation of other trains.

“While outside parts of the windows of the train have become weak due to the cold weather, some of them were cracked after they were hit by pebbles,” a KORAIL official said.

Nearly 100 flights were canceled between Saturday and Sunday, most of them to and from Jeju Island, due to strong winds or snowfall.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it has maintained 24-hour emergency work and taken precautionary measures against potential damage caused by the cold wave, in cooperation with its 25 districts. The measures included offering temporary shelter to the homeless.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also operating its emergency response system, enhancing patrols to prevent traffic accidents on icy roads.

“We advise people to take extra care when driving as roads are slippery due to black ice,” a ministry official said.

Black ice refers to a thin coating of clear ice on roads which is difficult for drivers to detect.