South Korea braces for autumn rain, then a cold snap with lows near 0C from Oct 22
In short
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast autumn rain across South Korea on 18 and 19 October, continuing in the south and on Jeju into 20 and 21 October. Outlets reported that clear, cooler weather would follow from 22 October, with morning lows falling to 0 degrees in some areas.
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The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast autumn rain across South Korea on 18 and 19 October, followed by clear and cooler weather from 22 October. Chosun Ilbo and Electronic Times reported on 18 October that a trough with rain clouds was moving in, with rain nationwide on 18 October and concentrated in the south and on Jeju on 19 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
Forecast rainfall for 18-19 October was 30-80 mm for the Seoul area, Incheon, Gyeonggi and the Chungcheong region, and 20-70 mm for inland and mountain Gangwon, according to Electronic Times. In the south, Gwangju, South Jeolla and North Jeolla were expected to receive 30-80 mm, and Daegu, North Gyeongsang, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang 10-60 mm. Chosun Ilbo gave the same ranges for the Seoul area and Chungcheong. [ 1 , 2 ]
Rain was forecast to continue in the south and on Jeju on 20 October, and in parts of South Gyeongsang and Jeju into 21 October. Asia Economy, on 20 October, listed cumulative totals of 20-60 mm for Gwangju, South Jeolla, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang and 5-40 mm for Jeju. It put the Seoul area at under 5 mm. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Newsis said that after the rain, high pressure would bring clear skies nationwide from 22 to 24 October, with morning lows of 0-15 degrees and highs of 15-24 degrees. Electronic Times said cold air from the northwest would bring morning temperatures of 0-12 degrees on 22-23 October, somewhat below normal. Chosun Ilbo said lows could reach 0 degrees in parts of the central region from 22 October. Newsis listed weekly lows of 0-10 degrees for Chuncheon and 4-12 degrees for Seoul. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Electronic Times reported that day-night temperature gaps of 10 degrees or more were expected in many inland areas, and that the agency urged people to take care of their health. It said wind advisories were in effect on 18 October for Seoul, Incheon, parts of Gyeonggi, Gangwon, South Chungcheong, parts of Jeolla, the North Gyeongsang east coast and parts of Jeju, with high-wave advisories for the West Sea and parts of other waters. The agency also warned of strong rain with gusts, thunder and lightning in most of the country. CBS NoCut News later reported wind advisories on parts of the west coast and Jeju. [ 2 , 7 ]
Why it matters
Outlets reported strong winds, thunder and heavy rain in places, and the weather agency urged care over facilities and traffic safety. The agency also asked people to look after their health because of the sharp temperature changes.
Key facts
- For 18-19 October, rainfall of 30-80 mm was forecast for the Seoul area and the Chungcheong region, and 20-70 mm for inland and mountain Gangwon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Rain was forecast to continue in the south and on Jeju on 20 October, and in parts of South Gyeongsang and Jeju into 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
- From 22 October a high-pressure system was forecast to bring clear skies nationwide, with morning lows of 0 degrees in some areas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Cold air from the northwest was forecast to bring morning temperatures of 0-12 degrees on 22-23 October, somewhat below normal, according to Electronic Times. [ 2 ]
- The Korea Meteorological Administration said day-night temperature gaps of 10 degrees or more were expected in many inland areas and urged people to take care of their health. [ 2 ]
- Wind advisories were in effect on 18 October for Seoul, Incheon, parts of Gyeonggi, Gangwon, South Chungcheong, parts of Jeolla, the North Gyeongsang east coast and parts of Jeju. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Rain on 18-19 October was forecast nationwide, followed by rain concentrated in the south and on Jeju through 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Skies were forecast to clear on 22 October under high pressure, with lows reaching 0 degrees in some areas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The 19 October forecast was for morning lows of 7-19 degrees and daytime highs of 19-24 degrees. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How far rain would reach on 20-21 October Outlets gave different regional ranges. One reported 5-40 mm in the south for 20-21 October, while another listed 5 mm or less in the Seoul area and 20-60 mm in Gwangju, South Jeolla, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang.
- The coldest morning temperatures One outlet gave lows of 0-12 degrees for 22-23 October and another gave 0-15 degrees for 22-24 October. A third said Seoul could fall to 4 degrees, but its relative dates (tomorrow, the day after) are unclear because of the publication time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 18 October, Chosun Ilbo reported rain across the country through 19 October and a drop to 0 degrees on Thursday. [ 1 ]
- On 18 October, Electronic Times reported rain through 19 October, wind advisories and a cold-air drop from 22 October. [ 2 ]
- On 19 October, Newsis published its weekly forecast covering 19-25 October. [ 3 ]
- On 19 October, Kyunghyang Shinmun ran a 20 October forecast titled as rain that brings cold to Chungcheong and the south. [ 5 ]
- On 20 October, Asia Economy reported rain concentrated in the south and Jeju, with cold air coming in from the northwest. [ 6 ]
- On 21 October, CBS NoCut News reported rain in Chungcheong and the south and strong wind advisories on parts of the west coast and Jeju. [ 7 ]