Korea forecasts clear, chilly weather with 15-degree day-night temperature swing
In short
South Korea's official forecast and local outlets predicted mostly clear skies for Tuesday, Oct. 6 and Wednesday, Oct. 7, with cold mornings and a day-night temperature difference of about 15 degrees Celsius. Tuesday's forecast included morning lows of 6-14 degrees, daytime highs of 21-23 degrees and gusts of up to 55 km/h, with a wind-wave advisory for the far West Sea. For Wednesday, outlets reported morning lows of 3-14 degrees, highs of 21-25 degrees and “good” fine dust levels nationwide.
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Yonhap reported that Tuesday, Oct. 6 would be mostly clear nationwide with sharply lower morning temperatures. It said inland morning temperatures would fall to around 10 degrees Celsius and around 5 degrees in inland and mountainous Gangwon Province, with a day-night temperature difference of about 15 degrees. Winds could gust to about 55 kilometers per hour, and about 70 km/h in mountain areas, through the morning, and a wind-wave advisory was in effect for the far West Sea, where winds of 30-60 km/h and waves of 1.5-3.5 meters were expected. Morning lows were forecast at 6-14 degrees and daytime highs at 21-23 degrees. The report also carried city-by-city figures, with Seoul at 11-22 degrees and Chuncheon at 6-21 degrees. [ 1 ]
In its evening forecast that day, Yonhap said Tuesday would stay chilly, with low morning temperatures and strong winds. [ 2 ]
For Wednesday, Oct. 7, Yonhap's morning forecast said the country would be mostly clear but with low morning temperatures that would make the commute chilly, and it said mountainous areas could drop as low as 2 degrees. Its evening forecast repeated that the day would be mostly clear with a very large day-night temperature difference. Asia Economy reported Wednesday morning lows of 3-14 degrees and highs of 21-25 degrees, with inland morning temperatures around 10 degrees, a day-night difference of about 15 degrees and fine dust levels rated “good” nationwide. It listed sea wave heights of 0.5-1.5 meters off the East Sea and 0.5-1.0 meters off the West and South Seas, and forecast waves in the inner far seas of 0.5-2.0 meters in the East Sea, 0.5-1.5 meters in the West Sea and 0.5-2.5 meters in the South Sea. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Newsis also published a forecast for Wednesday under the headline “morning 3 degrees chilly, midday 25 degrees, nationwide clear and crisp.” The article text carried with that item dealt with North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone rather than the weather, so only the headline figures could be used. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The forecasts are routine seasonal weather, but the wide day-night temperature swings and strong morning winds prompted official cautions on health, facility safety and sea conditions. The wind-wave advisory for the far West Sea affects shipping and fishing there. The documents describe no damage or disruption from the weather.
Key facts
- Yonhap forecast that Tuesday, Oct. 6 would be mostly clear nationwide with morning lows of 6-14 degrees Celsius and daytime highs of 21-23 degrees. [ 1 ]
- Winds could gust to about 55 km/h, and about 70 km/h in mountain areas, through the morning, Yonhap said, with a wind-wave advisory in effect for the far West Sea. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap said Gangwon inland and mountain areas could fall to around 5 degrees on Tuesday and as low as 2 degrees on Wednesday. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Yonhap, Newsis and Asia Economy all forecast mostly clear skies for Wednesday, Oct. 7, with a large day-night temperature difference. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Asia Economy reported Wednesday morning lows of 3-14 degrees, daytime highs of 21-25 degrees and fine dust levels rated “good” nationwide. [ 6 ]
- Asia Economy listed Wednesday sea wave heights of 0.5-1.5 meters off the East Sea and 0.5-1.0 meters off the West and South Seas. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Forecasts issued Oct. 5 said Tuesday, Oct. 6 would be mostly clear with a cold morning and strong winds. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Forecasts for Wednesday, Oct. 7 said the country would be mostly clear with a very large day-night temperature difference. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Wednesday morning temperatures were forecast to be low across the country, with mountainous areas coldest. [ 3 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- How cold Wednesday morning will be in the coldest areas. Yonhap said mountainous areas could fall to 2 degrees Celsius, while Asia Economy gave a Wednesday morning low range of 3-14 degrees; the documents do not reconcile the two figures.
- The cause and expected duration of the cold spell. None of the documents explains what is driving the temperature drop or how long it will last.
- Details of the Newsis weather item beyond its headline. The article text carried with the Newsis item concerned North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone rather than the weather, so only the headline figures could be used.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap issues its forecast for Tuesday, Oct. 6, citing morning lows of 6-14 degrees, highs of 21-23 degrees, strong morning winds and a far West Sea wind-wave advisory. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap says in its evening forecast that Tuesday will be chilly with low morning temperatures and strong winds. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap forecasts that Wednesday, Oct. 7 will also be mostly clear with low morning temperatures, with mountainous areas as low as 2 degrees. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes a weather item headlined “morning 3 degrees chilly, midday 25 degrees, nationwide clear and crisp.” [ 4 ]
- Yonhap's evening forecast says Wednesday will be mostly clear with a very large day-night temperature difference. [ 5 ]
- Asia Economy reports Wednesday morning lows of 3-14 degrees, highs of 21-25 degrees, a day-night difference of about 15 degrees and “good” fine dust nationwide. [ 6 ]