South Korea issues first autumn cold wave advisories for Gyeonggi and Incheon
In short
The Korea Meteorological Administration put cold wave advisories into effect at 21:00 on 21 October for 10 areas of Gyeonggi including Siheung, and for parts of several other regions. Newsis and Kukmin Ilbo said they were the first of the autumn for Gyeonggi and Incheon. Yonhap reported that the advisory for the 10 Gyeonggi areas was lifted at 10:00 on 22 October.
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The Korea Meteorological Administration put cold wave advisories into effect at 21:00 on 21 October for 10 areas of Gyeonggi, Yonhap reported. The areas are Siheung, Gimpo, Icheon, Anseong, western and eastern Yangpyeong, western and south-eastern Yeoju, and southern and north-eastern Yongin. [ 1 ]
Newsis reported that the agency announced the advisories at 10:00 on 21 October. They covered Gyeonggi and Incheon (Ganghwa and the north), as well as Gangwon, the Chungcheong region, parts of North and South Gyeongsang and North Jeolla, Daejeon, Sejong and Daegu's Gunwi. Newsis and Kukmin Ilbo said it was the first cold wave advisory of the autumn for Gyeonggi and Incheon. [ 2 , 3 ]
The agency said cold air flowing in strongly from the northwest would make the morning of 22 October more than 10 degrees colder than 21 October and at least 3 degrees below normal. Lows were forecast at 5 degrees in Seoul and Daegu and 3 degrees in Daejeon, with northern Gyeonggi and inland and mountain areas of Gangwon expected to fall below zero. Kukmin Ilbo gave Seoul's daytime high as 16 degrees and said Daegwallyeong could fall to minus 3 degrees. [ 2 , 3 ]
Newsis said strong winds would make it feel colder than the actual temperature, with frost across inland areas and ice in some places. Gusts of about 15 metres per second were expected in most areas, and above 20 metres per second on coasts and in mountains. Gale advisories were in effect for Yeosu in South Jeolla and parts of Gangwon's east coast and mountains. [ 2 ]
Kukmin Ilbo noted that Seoul's morning low on 21 October was 11.1 degrees, and that on 12 October the city's daytime high reached 30.1 degrees, which it described as a record for October. An agency forecaster, Woo Jin-gyu, said a high-pressure system to the west and a low-pressure system to the east were squeezing the peninsula and making winds stronger than usual. [ 3 ]
The cold was expected to last until the morning of 23 October and ease from midday, with temperatures recovering to normal. Seoul's morning low was forecast at 8 degrees on 23 October and 12 degrees on 24 October. An agency official urged attention to health and to preventing cold damage to crops. Yonhap later reported that the advisory for the 10 Gyeonggi areas was lifted at 10:00 on 22 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents describe a sudden drop in morning temperatures, with the weather agency urging attention to health and protection of crops from cold damage. The cold is forecast to ease from midday on 23 October.
Key facts
- The weather agency put cold wave advisories into effect at 21:00 on 21 October for 10 areas of Gyeonggi: Siheung, Gimpo, Icheon, Anseong, western and eastern Yangpyeong, western and south-eastern Yeoju, and southern and north-eastern Yongin. [ 1 ]
- Newsis said the agency announced advisories at 10:00 on 21 October covering Gyeonggi, Incheon (Ganghwa and the north), Gangwon, the Chungcheong region, parts of North and South Gyeongsang and North Jeolla, Daejeon, Sejong and Daegu's Gunwi. [ 2 ]
- Newsis and Kukmin Ilbo said it was the first cold wave advisory of the autumn for Gyeonggi and Incheon. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Seoul's morning low on 22 October was forecast at 5 degrees, with a daytime high of 16 degrees. [ 3 ]
- Daejeon was forecast at 3 degrees and Daegwallyeong in Gangwon at minus 3 degrees. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Yonhap reported the advisory for the 10 Gyeonggi areas was lifted at 10:00 on 22 October. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cold wave advisories took effect at 21:00 on 21 October in Gyeonggi, including Siheung and nine other areas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The advisories for Gyeonggi and Incheon were the first of the autumn. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The weather agency lifted the advisory for the 10 Gyeonggi areas at 10:00 on 22 October. [ 4 ]
- Seoul's morning low on 22 October was forecast at 5 degrees. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The criteria for a cold wave advisory. Yonhap gives a morning low below minus 12 degrees for two days or more, or a rapid fall with major damage expected; Kukmin Ilbo gives a fall of 10 degrees or more to 3 degrees or below and at least 3 degrees under normal.
- Whether advisories outside the 10 Gyeonggi areas were also lifted. The only lifting notice in the documents covers the 10 Gyeonggi areas, and it is a summary only.