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[Weather] Early summer heat under sunny skies, rain on Thursday

2025/04/30 10:00

It's the last day of April, and we're heading straight into some early summer heat today. Unfortunately, this hot and dry weather is also increasing the risk of wildfires. Most of the country is now under a dry weather advisory. And the situation is more serious in the east of Gangwon-do Province, Daegu, and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where dry weather warnings are in place. Be prepared for a larger temperature swing throughout the day. Daytime highs will push past 25 degrees in many parts of Korea. Seoul gets up to a toasty 26 degrees Celsius, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Daegu will all get up to 27 degrees under mostly clear skies with decent air quality. The good news is that we do have some rain on the way tomorrow, which should help to ease these dry conditions nationwide. The capital area could be seeing up to 50 millimeters, but there won't be as much rain for Gyeongsang-do Provinces as we'd like. Expect to have strong winds through the end of the week, with more rain expected in southern provinces on Saturday.

[Weather] Dry weather warnings have expanded, strong winds until tomorrow

2025/04/29 20:00

With warm and clear weather, dry conditions continue every day. Currently, dry weather advisories have been expanded to most parts of the country, and dry weather warnings are in effect for most parts of the east coast, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. In addition, strong winds of around 20 meters per second will blow along the coast and the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province until tomorrow. In these winds, small embers can turn into large fires, so please take extra precautions. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will start off at 12 degrees Celsius, Busan at 13 degrees. There will be high temperatures across the country tomorrow. Rain is forecast across the country on Thursday afternoon to ease off the dryness of the atmosphere. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Power gradually returns after major blackout in Spain and Portugal

2025/04/29 20:00

Staying in Europe. An unprecedented power outage plunged Portugal and Spain into complete darkness on Monday. Park Hyo-been has more. Cheers erupted as lights gradually flickered back on across the Iberian Peninsula late Monday night. By early Tuesday, around 90 percent of Spain's national grid had been restored, with light also returning to Lisbon. The massive blackout had plunged much of the region into chaos earlier in the day. Traffic lights went dark, causing major traffic disruption. Police were dispatched to key intersections to manually direct traffic. Subways and trains ground to a halt, leaving hundreds of tourists and residents trapped in the dark, many experiencing moments of panic. High-speed train services were also disrupted, forcing passengers to disembark. "They opened the door so, you can you know, freshen up and everything. After I would say an hour, the battery died down on the train, and then that's it, the bathroom wasn't working. And so it's so stupid because everything was electronic." As the Spanish government declared a national emergency, long lines formed outside supermarkets and gas stations as people rushed to stock up on essentials. "I don't know, we've been without electricity for a while now. We don't know how long it's going to be, so we are buying what's possible to buy for the moment." The exact cause of the outage is under investigation. "It is better not to speculate. We will know the cause. We do not rule out any hypothesis, but now we must focus on the most important thing, which is to restore electricity to our homes." The two countries held emergency cabinet meetings in response to the crisis. Spain is receiving emergency electricity from France and Morocco, but no timeline has been given for full restoration. Meanwhile, Portugal expects normal service to resume as early as Tuesday, prioritizing hospitals, airports, and railways. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

[Weather] Dry weather warnings across the country with strong winds

2025/04/29 17:00

The atmosphere is very dry as the clear weather continues every day. Dry weather advisories have been expanded to most parts of the country, and dry weather warnings are in effect for most parts of the east coast, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Strong winds in the inland areas will subside today, but strong winds of around 20 meters per second will blow along the coast and the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province until tomorrow. Small embers can turn into large fires in this wind, so please take extra precautions. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will start off at 12 degrees Celsius, Daejeon, Gwangju and Daegu at 10 degrees. There will be high temperatures across the country tomorrow. More rain is forecast nationwide on Thursday afternoon to relieve the dryness of the air. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Power gradually returns after major blackout in Spain and Portugal

2025/04/29 17:00

Staying in Europe. An unprecedented power outage plunged Portugal and Spain into complete darkness on Monday. Park Hyo-been has more. Cheers erupted as lights gradually flickered back on across the Iberian Peninsula late Monday night. By early Tuesday, around 90 percent of Spain's national grid had been restored, with light also returning to Lisbon. The massive blackout had plunged much of the region into chaos earlier in the day. Traffic lights went dark, causing major traffic disruption. Police were dispatched to key intersections to manually direct traffic. Subways and trains ground to a halt, leaving hundreds of tourists and residents trapped in the dark, many experiencing moments of panic. High-speed train services were also disrupted, forcing passengers to disembark. "They opened the door so, you can you know, freshen up and everything. After I would say an hour, the battery died down on the train, and then that's it, the bathroom wasn't working. And so it's so stupid because everything was electronic." As the Spanish government declared a national emergency, long lines formed outside supermarkets and gas stations as people rushed to stock up on essentials. "I don't know, we've been without electricity for a while now. We don't know how long it's going to be, so we are buying what's possible to buy for the moment." The exact cause of the outage is under investigation. "It is better not to speculate. We will know the cause. We do not rule out any hypothesis, but now we must focus on the most important thing, which is to restore electricity to our homes." The two countries held emergency cabinet meetings in response to the crisis. Spain is receiving emergency electricity from France and Morocco, but no timeline has been given for full restoration. Meanwhile, Portugal expects normal service to resume as early as Tuesday, prioritizing hospitals, airports, and railways. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

Daegu wildfire 82% contained as of 8 AM; containment efforts ongoing

2025/04/29 10:00

The wildfire that broke out on Monday afternoon in Daegu is still burning. Firefighting efforts have achieved an 82% containment rate as of this morning. We now turn to our Kim Jung-sil who is joining us live on the line. Jung-sil, fill us in. Dami, the wildfire that broke out in the northern Buk-gu district of Daegu continues to spread, despite efforts by firefighters overnight. The fire, which started yesterday afternoon, has as of this morning already affected over 2.6 million square meters of land. As of 8 AM this morning, authorities have managed to bring 82% of the fire under control. Now, take a look at this latest situation map. The red lines on the map show where the fire is still burning, while the yellow lines indicate where the flames have been extinguished. As you can see, a significant portion of the fireline has been contained, reflecting progress in the firefighting efforts. This morning, I spoke with the spokesperson of the Korea Forest Service, Kim Jong-gun, who provided an update on the fire. Take a listen. "The fire has affected an area of 260 hectares. So far, 9 kilometers of the 11 kilometer fire line have been contained. The air is extremely dry, and strong winds are fueling the fire. People in forested areas or near the mountains must avoid using any open flames whatsoever." Over 700 personnel were deployed to fight the fire last night, and today, that number has been doubled. Spokesperson Kim also mentioned that 53 firefighting helicopters and 205 vehicles are being used in the operation. Now, Dami, you might wonder how the fire started, especially given that the area is close to residential zones and a popular hiking destination. After a series of devastating wildfires across the country, including the deadly Uiseong wildfire last month that claimed more than 20 lives, the Hamjisan Mountain area was officially designated as a restricted zone to prevent exactly what we're seeing today. Yet, despite the restrictions, the spokesperson confirmed that the fire started within that very restricted zone. Authorities are now investigating how this could have happened. Jung-sil, with the fire now threatening residential areas, how are authorities managing the situation with evacuees? Are there any updates on the safety measures being taken? Yes, Dami, while no casualties have been reported yet, the situation remains dire due to the fire's proximity to residential areas. Authorities are urging residents, especially those near Hamjisan Mountain, to stay on high alert. At least 2,200 residents were evacuated to local elementary schools by Monday afternoon, with an additional 660 evacuating this morning. In response to the growing threat, three schools near the fire zone have been closed today for safety. With Daegu still under a dry weather warning and strong winds expected throughout the day, firefighting efforts are set to face further challenges. That's all I have for this hour, back to you Dami. Thank you for the update, Jung-sil.

[Weather] Pleasant springtime with high risk of wildfire

2025/04/29 10:00

We'll continue to have a nice stretch of springtime days under sunny skies. However, the air is incredibly dry in the eastern regions, so the risk of wildfires remains a significant concern. With this persistent dry weather, we've unfortunately seen wildfires breaking out in several areas. The national forest fire crisis alert level remains at the second highest. On top of that, we'll also see strong winds, especially along the west coast and in the mountains of Gangwon-do Province. Meanwhile, we'll have a very large daily temperature range of 10 to 15 degrees, some inland areas even saw some frost this morning. A pleasant warm-up expected this afternoon, with Seoul reaching 20 degrees, Gwangju climbing to 23. Air quality will be normal to good in most parts. The good news is that we do have rain in the forecast for Thursday nationwide, which should help to ease these dry conditions. But until then, please remain extra cautious when it comes to fire prevention.

Power outage causes chaos in Spain and Portugal

2025/04/29 10:00

Let's begin in Europe, where a huge power outage swept across Spain and Portugal. Sure. On Monday, a massive power cut hit parts of Spain and Portugal, causing widespread chaos and disruption. The blackout disrupted essential services, halted transportation, and prompted Spain to declare a national emergency. At approximately 12:33 PM local time, a widespread power failure struck mainland Spain and Portugal, as well as parts of southwestern France and Andorra. The outage left millions without electricity, causing traffic lights to fail, halting transportation services, and leaving many without access to mobile and internet networks. In Spain, there was a complete shutdown of the national electricity grid, leading to the suspension of all train services. Madrid's international airport also experienced power loss, causing flight delays and cancellations. It was a similar situation in Portugal. While the cause of the blackout remains under investigation, Portugal's grid operator suggested extreme temperature fluctuations may have led to rare failures in the grid.

Suspension bridge spanning Namhangang River will be open next month

2025/04/29 10:00

If you're looking to take in all the spring warmth a little further away from the capital but closer to the nature, down in Yeoju city, a suspension bridge spanning Namhangang River is set to open this Thursday. Cha Yun-kyung has more. The spring river breeze brings a pleasurable feeling to tourists. A suspension bridge spanning the Namhangang River boasts of grand and beautiful features. This is the first suspension bridge over the Hangang River with a length of 5-hundred-15 meters and an average height of 30 meters, providing magnificent panoramic views of the River. "We are shivering since it is very high up here, and I think it is a great place to visit with the family since it has beautiful landscapes." Visitors can experience the thrill of looking through the bridge's glass floor where people can view the river and at the "media glass," which looks like it is breaking when people step on it. There is a special zone at the center of the bridge where a person can propose to their loved one. People can also find an elevator for transportation of the disabled and elderly. "It is great for both adults and children to walk around here on the suspension bridge since it is not steep, is fun, and has wonderful views." Around the suspension bridge, tourists can explore the thousand-year-old Silleuksa Temple and Geumun Morae Camping, adding more things to see and enjoy. "We declare the year of 2025 as the first Visit Yeoju year with the completion of the suspension bridge. We are planning to make Yeoju a brand new city by attracting more than 6-million tourists." Based on the opening of the Yeoju Ceramic Festival, the suspension bridge will officially open on the first day of next month after final safety inspections are carried out by the end of April. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Feeling warm across the country, the atmosphere is drying up

2025/04/28 20:00

The sun is shining across the country today. The temperatures will stay very similar to the average for this time of year throughout the week. However, it will only be 8 degrees Celsius in Seoul tomorrow morning feeling a bit chilly. The daytime temperature on Wednesday will then rise to 25 degrees, as hot as early summer. With sunny weather, the atmosphere is drying up. Currently, dry weather advisories have been expanded to some western regions including Seoul. In addition, dry weather warnings are in place in the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow morning, many areas will start off in the single digits with Daejeon at 5 degrees, and Gyeongju at 6 degrees. Daily highs will move up to as warm as 20 degrees across the country. There is more rain forecast all over the country from Thursday afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Warm weather continues, dry weather advisories in effect

2025/04/28 17:00

Warm spring weather with bright sunshine appeared all over the country. This week, the temperatures will be very similar to the average for this time of year. However, it will only be 8 degrees Celsius in Seoul tomorrow morning. Then the daytime temperature on Wednesday will rise to 25 degrees, so it will be as hot as early summer. As the sunny weather continues, the dryness of the atmosphere is getting worse. Currently, dry weather advisories have been expanded to some western areas including Seoul. In addition, dry weather warnings are in effect for the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow morning, many areas will start off at single digits with Gwangju and Daegu at 7 degrees. Daily highs will move up to as warm as 20 degrees across the country. Sunny weather will continue until Wednesday. There is rain forecast nationwide from Thursday afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Dry and sunny with big rise in highs

2025/04/28 10:00

We're starting the week with beautiful, clear skies and warm spring sunshine across the country. However, with the air getting drier and strong winds picking up, the risk of wildfires is growing, so we need to be extra careful. Currently, a dry weather warning is in place for mountains in southern Gangwon-do Province as well as Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, with a dry weather advisory issued for other eastern regions and even here in Seoul. It's a bit cool to start the day. Inland regions, including Bonghwa, had morning low temperatures in the single digits, but by the afternoon, we'll see a pleasant warm-up. For a closer look, Seoul gets up to 20 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Gyeongju at 24 degrees under sunny skies. Air quality will be decent in most parts of Korea. Looking ahead, we do have rain in the forecast for Thursday nationwide. But until then, the clear and dry conditions will persist, so please, let's be extra cautious with anything that could start a fire.

[Weather] Mild conditions as temperatures drop, dry weather advisory in place

2025/04/25 20:00

The summer-like heat has turned back to spring-like conditions. The cold air came down last night, and the temperature in Seoul dropped to the single digits this morning to 7 degrees Celsius. Even during the day, most areas were 1 to 7 degrees lower than yesterday. The weather will continue to be not too hot until early next week. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is very dry as the clear weather continues for days. Currently, a dry weather advisory is in place in most of the eastern areas and Gyeongsang-do provinces. The atmosphere is expected to get drier as there is no rain forecast for the time being. Tomorrow, Chuncheon will start off at 3 degrees, Daejeon at 6 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 20 degrees in Seoul, 19 degrees in Busan. This weekend will be perfect to enjoy outdoor activities with clear skies. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Clear skies but dry conditions in the east

2025/04/25 17:00

The hot summer-like weather took a step back today. The cold air came down overnight, and the temperature in Seoul dropped to the single digits this morning to just 7 degrees Celsius. Even in the middle of the day, most areas were 1 to 7 degrees lower than yesterday. These mild conditions will continue until early next week. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is very dry as the clear weather continues for days. A dry weather advisory is currently in place in most of the eastern parts of the country and the Gyeongsang-do provinces. The atmosphere is expected to get drier and drier as there will be no rain for the time being. Tomorrow, Chuncheon will start off at 3 degrees, Gwangju and Daegu at 7 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 20 degrees in Seoul, 24 degrees in Gyeongju. This weekend will be perfect to enjoy outdoor activities with clear skies. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Staying below norms, hazy this morning in central areas

2025/04/25 10:00

We've had a significant temperature drop overnight. It's also cooler than what we typically expect for late April. The afternoon will also be cooler than yesterday. This weekend looks to be more of typical spring weather with large daily temperature swings. However, we do have some yellow dust drifting in, which could make the air quality a bit hazy in the central regions and the Gyeongsang-do Provinces, especially during the morning hours. Afternoon highs will be 1 to 9 degrees lower this afternoon at 19 degrees in the capital, Daegu and Gyeongju at 20 degrees, which is nearly 8 degrees lower than yesterday under bright sunshine. We'll also have to brave strong winds across the country today. On top of that, the air in the eastern regions is gradually becoming drier. Pleasant spring weather persists through the end of April, with rain in store on Jeju on Sunday. Just remember that big temperature difference between morning and afternoon and dress in layers to stay comfortable throughout the day.

[Weather] Seoul will drop to 8 degrees tomorrow morning, strong winds across the country

2025/04/24 20:00

Around the Gyeongsang-do provinces, early summer-like conditions continued today. Daegu rose up to 26 degrees, about 10 degrees higher than yesterday. However, the temperature in Seoul and the west stayed at around 20 degrees. As the cold air comes down from the northwest from tonight, it will get chillier tomorrow with Seoul dropping to single digits, only 8 degrees. Meanwhile, gusty winds are blowing strongly throughout the country again. Strong winds of around 15 meters per second are expected until tomorrow. The atmosphere in the eastern parts of the country will gradually get drier as well. Please take extra precautions not to cause any wildfires. Tomorrow, Chuncheon will start off at 4 degrees, Busan at 10 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 17 to 20 degrees all over the country. Morning will continue to be chilly until early next week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Chilly morning tomorrow in single digits, strong winds nationwide

2025/04/24 17:00

It was hot like early summer today, exceeding 25 degrees Celsius around the Gyeongsang-do provinces. Daegu rose up to 26 degrees, about 10 degrees higher than yesterday. However, the temperature in the west including Seoul dropped to 20 degrees. As the cold air comes down from the northwest from tonight, it will get chillier tomorrow with Seoul dropping to the single digits, only 8 degrees. In addition, winds are also blowing strongly across the country again. Strong winds of around 15 meters per second will continue. The atmosphere in the eastern parts of the country will gradually become dry as well. Please take extra precautions not to accidentally cause any fires. Tomorrow, Chuncheon will start off at 4 degrees, Daejeon and Gyeongju at 7 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 17 to 20 degrees all over the country. A chilly morning will continue until early next week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Short-form] Pollen– spring's unwelcome guest

2025/04/24 14:00

Find out ways to survive the spring pollen attack in Korea. With a little extra care, your perfect spring adventure is still within reach!

[Weather] Fine spring day with temperature swings, very high UV rays

2025/04/24 10:00

It looks like being another one of those classic spring days with a significant temperature swing. Here in Seoul, we'll enjoy a warm afternoon with highs reaching 20 degrees. And down in the Gyeongsang-do regions, it could feel even warmer under plenty of sunshine. And as you've guessed, the season of sun safety has arrived. The UV index will be very high in most parts of Korea today during the day. Central regions could see temperatures going down a few degrees today, but those in the east coast regions will notice highs jumping about 5 to 10 degrees higher than yesterday. Daegu and Gyeongju both noticing a big rise in highs today, topping out at 26 degrees Celsius. Air quality will be decent nationwide, but the spring winds will be picking up. We have some cooler air moving in from the north, which will make temperatures more typical for this time of year. Remember, with these ups and downs in temperatures, taking care of your health is really important.

6.2-magnitude earthquake shakes Istanbul

2025/04/24 10:00

Over in Türkiye, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Istanbul on Wednesday at 12:49 PM local time, injuring more than 200 people during a public holiday in the country. The quake's epicenter was located in the Sea of Marmara, approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Istanbul. The tremor lasted about 13 seconds and was followed by over 100 aftershocks, including one of 5.9 magnitude. Officials say at least 236 people are being treated in hospitals, primarily due to injuries suffered while jumping from buildings in panic. Authorities received over 300 reports of structural damage in buildings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed relief that the situation was manageable and extended prayers for the nation's safety.