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Latest-ever heavy snow advisory issued for Seoul as S. Korea experiences mid-March snowfall

2025/03/18 10:00

South Korea is experiencing an unusual spring chill, resulting in heavy mid-March snow. Our Lee Soo-jin has this report. As winter makes an unexpected return to South Korea, Seoul has been issued its latest-ever heavy snow advisory. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, over 10 cm of snow accumulated in the northern part of the capital between 8 PM on Monday and 6 AM on Tuesday. In the county of Cheorwon in Gangwon-do Province, 14 cm of snow accumulated over the same period, while significant snowfall of more than 10 cm of snow was also recorded in cities in Gyeonggi-do Province. Heavy snow advisories, which are issued for a region when at least 5 cm of snow is expected to accumulate over a period of 24 hours, were issued for the Seoul metropolitan area as well as in parts of Chungcheong-do Provinces, Jeolla-do Provinces, Gyeongsang-do Provinces, and Jeju Island. And a heavy snow warning, issued when snowfall is expected to exceed 20 cm within the same period, was issued for Gangwon-do Province. For Seoul, this marks the latest-ever heavy snow advisory issued, surpassing the previous record set on March 9, 2010. This year's unusual mid-March snowfall was caused by an Arctic vortex, a large, rotating mass of cold air, bringing Arctic cold air with temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius into the country. With heavy snow advisories issued nationwide,.. the Interior Ministry activated a Level One Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters emergency response posture and raised the nation's crisis alert level for heavy snow from the lowest level, "attention," to "caution." But the heavy snowfall has already resulted in accidents. Around 12:50 AM today, in the city of Ansan in Gyeonggi Province, a car skidded on a snowy road and collided with a median barrier, killing the driver while other vehicles were damaged by debris. While the snow and rain falling nationwide are expected to gradually ease by the afternoon, to prevent further accidents, local governments are deploying automatic deicing equipment and personnel to clear roads. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cold snap across the country, heavy snow until tomorrow

2025/03/17 20:00

Temperatures were 2 to 6 degrees lower than usual nationwide, with the temperature in Seoul hitting minus 1-point-3 degrees Celsius this morning. With snow and rain falling across the country, tomorrow will be as cold as today. By tomorrow, up to 10 centimeters of snow will fall on the western inland areas, including the Seoul metropolitan area. Up to 30 centimeters of heavy snow is expected in eastern parts of the country such as the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province. This snow will gradually fade away in the western parts of the country tomorrow morning, and a lull is expected in most parts of the country tomorrow night. Tomorrow morning will start off at minus 4 degrees in Chuncheon, Gwangju and Daegu start at 1 degree. Daily highs will move up to 6 to 9 degrees across the country. Temperatures will start to climb back from Thursday with Seoul reaching up to 15 degrees. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Heavy snow across the country tomorrow, cold snap continues

2025/03/17 17:00

The cold snap has made a return and it feels like winter again. This morning in Seoul, the temperature was minus 1-point-3 degrees Celsius, and it stayed cold through the day with icy winds. Tomorrow will be just as cold as today with the daytime temperature reaching up to only 6 degrees. Snow will begin again late tonight in the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheongnam-do Province, and heavy snow will fall across the country tomorrow. Looking at the expected snowfall, up to 10 centimeters of snow will fall in Seoul, and between 20 and 30 centimeters is expected around the eastern mountainous areas. Please be prepared in advance. Tomorrow morning will start off at minus 4 degrees in Chuncheon, Daejeon at zero degrees. Daily highs will move up to 6 to 9 degrees all over the country. From Thursday, spring weather will come back with Seoul reaching up to 15 degrees. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Spring cold, heavy snow tonight nationwide

2025/03/17 10:00

It feels like winter made its come back this morning! And with the wind chill, it feels even colder. Meanwhile, the snow just keeps piling up up in the mountains of Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do Provinces. Until this afternoon, they could get up to 15 centimeters of snowfall. And heavy snow alerts remain in place for those regions, while the wind is stronger along the coast with wind advisories. If you're near the shore stay safe. The rest of the country will be under bright skies but afternoon highs remain in the single figures in most parts, Seoul gets up to 6 degrees, Daegu at 9 degrees. Spring cold stays with us through the first half of the week before things warm up. But we are looking at a heavy round of snow overnight. It will start to snow in the capital and Chungcheong-do Provinces tonight spreading nationwide overnight, the capital region could see 3 to 10 centimeters of snowfall leading to morning chaos tomorrow. Be sure to check the forecast and stay safe.

[Weather] Sudden change in temperatures this weekend, rain and snow forecast

2025/03/14 20:00

The yellow dust that covered the skies in the Seoul metropolitan area and the Chungcheong-do provinces yesterday has all been blown away by the easterly winds. For the time being, clear skies will continue nationwide. The temperature in Seoul rose up to 18 degrees Celsius today, recording the highest temperature this year. It will continue to be warm tomorrow with Seoul reaching up to 16 degrees, but there is rain forecast mainly on the south coast and Jeju Island. On Sunday, there will be a sudden change in weather conditions. As the cold is expected to make a return, Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do Provinces will have heavy snow, which will spread to all over the country. Tomorrow morning will be as warm as 7 degrees in Seoul, Gwangju and Daegu. Highs will move up to 12 to 16 degrees in most areas. The temperatures in inland areas will fall below zero degrees next week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Sudden changes in weather this weekend, heavy snow or rain forecast

2025/03/14 17:00

A day before the weekend, clear skies appeared across the country. With clean easterly winds, all the yellow dust that covered the skies yesterday was blown away overnight. The air will stay clear for the time being. The daytime temperature in Seoul rose up to 18 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature this year so far. It will continue to be warm tomorrow but there is rain forecast mainly on the south coast and Jeju Island. On Sunday, the weather will change rapidly as cold air comes down from the north. As the cold is expected to make a return, Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do Provinces will have heavy snow, which will then spread to the rest of the country. Tomorrow morning will be as warm as 7 degrees in Seoul, Gwangju and Daegu. Highs will move up to 12 to 16 degrees across the country. Temperatures will fall below zero in Seoul next week. Please take care of your health with this sudden change in temperatures. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Warmth like mid-April in west with normal air quality under bright skies nationwide

2025/03/14 10:00

Expect a pleasant spring day across Korea. Especially those of us in the west will have mid-April-like temperatures with highs surpassing 20 degrees in Gwangju. The best part? Air quality will be normal in most parts, so you can better enjoy the sunshine. But those in Daejeon, Gwangju and Jeollabuk-do could notice dusty air at times during the day. This mild trend will stick around through Saturday before cooler air moves in on Sunday with nationwide wintry precipitation. Next Monday, we'll be waking up to subzero temperatures. So make the most of this warm stretch under cleaner air today, Seoul gets up to 18 degrees, Daejeon at 20 degrees. Meanwhile, easterly winds will drag down the highs a couple of degrees in eastern parts of Korea with highs of 14 degrees in Gyeongju and 15 degrees in Busan. Jeju and the south coast will see rain from tomorrow expanding nationwide on Sunday and lingering into early next week. It will be much chillier than this week.

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake, strongest in 40 years, hits Naples, Italy

2025/03/14 10:00

In Italy, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck a region near Naples in the early hours of Thursday local time with at least 11 people treated for minor injuries. The quake's epicenter was near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, west of Naples, occurring around 1:25 A.M. The earthquake caused minor structural damage, including cracks in buildings and the collapse of facades. This was the strongest tremor in the area in 40 years. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

[Weather] Yellow dust at its peak, will clear from tomorrow warmer temperatures

2025/03/13 20:00

The whole country has been affected by yellow dust all day. In particular, special attention should be paid to Incheon, Sejong and the Chungcheong-do provinces as the yellow dust crisis warning is at "attention" stage. In addition, the concentration of fine dust is at "bad" levels in many areas. This yellow dust was at its peak today and is expected to gradually clear from tomorrow. Tomorrow will be 3 degrees higher than today with the daytime temperature in Seoul reaching up to 18 degrees Celsius, about as warm as it would usually be a month from now. Seoul and Gyeongju will start off at 3 degrees, Daegu at 4 degrees tomorrow morning. Highs will move up to 19 degrees in Daejeon, 21 degrees in Gwangju. More rain will begin in the southern parts of the country on Saturday, and it will spread across the country on Sunday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Warm conditions across the country with yellow dust everywhere

2025/03/13 17:00

Along with fog and ultra-fine dust, yellow dust came in through the northwesterly winds. This yellow dust gradually spread across the country, starting with the Seoul metropolitan area and the Chungcheong-do provinces. In particular, special attention should be paid to Incheon, Sejong and the Chungcheong-do provinces as the yellow dust crisis warning is at "attention" stage. This yellow dust will peak today, and will gradually clear up from tomorrow. Tomorrow, the daytime temperature in Seoul will be 18 degrees Celsius, and 15 degrees on Saturday, about as warm as it would usually be a month from now. Seoul and Gyeongju will start off at 3 degrees, Busan at 7 degrees tomorrow morning. Highs will move up to 19 degrees in Daejeon, 21 degrees in Gwangju. On Saturday, it will start raining in the southern parts of the country, and across the country on Sunday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Dusty air nationwide, warmth continues

2025/03/13 10:00

Much of Korea is on high alert due to dust levels. Yellow dust will spike fine dust levels across Korea, raising dust levels to very bad at times. Refrain from going outdoors without a face mask. Incheon, Sejong and Chungcheong-do Provinces are at the "attention" level on the yellow dust warning system. Avoid outdoor activities, if you are in these areas. While the air quality isn't great, temperatures continue to be on the promising side. Readings will rise rapidly as we head towards the afternoon leading to wide daily temperature gaps. Afternoon highs will be 1 to 4 degrees higher than yesterday, Seoul gets up to 15 degrees, Daegu and Gwangju make it to 17 degrees. Mostly sunny skies will be blurred by an awful dust storm. Tomorrow looks like being warmer with a high of 18 degrees in the capital but thankfully air quality should improve. The mild weather continues through Saturday, but nationwide rain on Sunday will bring chillier air to start early next week! Keep your face mask on today!

[Weather] Fine dust across the country, warmer conditions tomorrow

2025/03/12 20:00

With cloudy conditions across the country, there was light rain in the Seoul metropolitan area, western parts of Gangwon-do Province, and Jeju Island today. The daytime temperature in Seoul rose up to 11 degrees Celsius, a bit lower than yesterday. It will rise back to 14 degrees tomorrow feeling like early April. However, in addition to fine dust, yellow dust will arrive overnight. Therefore, the concentration of fine dust will stay at "bad" levels in most parts of the country tomorrow. In Incheon, Sejong, and the Chungcheong-do provinces, "very bad" levels of fine dust will cover the skies. Tomorrow morning will be very similar to today. Seoul and Daejeon will start off at 3 degrees and Jeju at 8 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 15 degrees in Chuncheon, Daejeon and Gwangju, 16 degrees in Gyeongju and Busan. There is rain forecast nationwide on Sunday with a cold snap. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Bad air quality will last this week, temperatures as warm as early April

2025/03/12 17:00

With the whole country cloudy today, it rained a little in the Seoul metropolitan area, western parts of Gangwon-do Province and Jeju Island. From tomorrow to the weekend, the weather will continue to be as warm as early April with Seoul rising up to 14 degrees Celsius tomorrow. However, due to the yellow dust overnight, the concentration of fine dust will stay at "bad" levels in most parts of the country tomorrow. Incheon, Sejong, and the Chungcheong-do provinces will have "very bad" levels of fine dust. Please wear a protective mask when you go outside. Tomorrow morning will be very similar to today. Seoul and Daejeon will start off at 3 degrees and Busan at 7 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 15 degrees in Chuncheon, Daejeon and Gwangju, 17 degrees in Daegu. On Sunday, there is rain forecast across the country along with a cold snap. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Dusty air continues with yellow dust to blow in

2025/03/12 10:00

Amazing to notice what mother nature is capable of, it was only couple of weeks ago we were holding on to winter jackets but yesterday's afternoon warmth made it feel like hotter weather was just around the corner. As for today, highs will go down more than 5 degrees in the capital and the rest of the upper regions. There will be afternoon spotty rain in the upper regions and Jeju. The amount won't be much but those of us in the capital area will be trapped in high levels of fine dust again so make sure to keep an umbrella handy to avoid dusty rain. Stagnant air flow is the main cause of dusty air this morning, plus yellow dust will blow into the entire country affecting western regions first as early as this afternoon. Tomorrow will be dustier. Afternoon highs will be 1 to 5 degrees lower today, with Seoul at 11 degrees. Daegu is still warm at 18 degrees. Temperatures will stay above seasonal norms through Saturday then nationwide spring rain on Sunday will bring a drop in temperatures next week.

[Weather] Warm spring conditions with fine dust across the country

2025/03/11 20:00

As the weather is getting warmer and the atmosphere stays stagnant, the concentration of fine dust increases. The first "high-concentration fine dust emergency reduction measures" of this spring were implemented today. In addition, ultra-fine dust warnings have also been issued in some areas. High concentrations of fine dust will continue tomorrow. There will be additional smog from overseas tomorrow night. There is a possibility that yellow dust will gradually flow in as well. Take special care of your health throughout the week. Tomorrow morning will start mild all over the country with Seoul at 6 degrees Celsius, Daejeon and Daegu at 5 degrees. Highs will move up to 13 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 17 degrees in Daegu. Mild temperatures of more than 5 degrees above the average will continue for the time being. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Weather] Dusty air with warm weather similar to late March to early April

2025/03/11 17:00

Warm weather that feels like late March to early April continued during the day today. However, in the Seoul metropolitan area, the first "high-concentration fine dust emergency reduction measures" of this spring are implemented until tonight. In addition, ultra-fine dust warnings were issued in southwestern Gyeonggi-do Province, including Incheon and Suwon. This stuffy air is expected to continue until Thursday, especially in the central parts of the country including Seoul. In addition to the stagnant atmosphere, there will be additional smog from overseas tomorrow night. There is a possibility that yellow dust will gradually be added to the dusty air. Tomorrow morning will start mild all over the country with Seoul at 6 degrees Celsius and Gwangju at 7 degrees. Highs will move up to 13 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 18 degrees in Gyeongju. In the second half of the week, it will be as warm as mid-April with Seoul rising up to 17 degrees. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

First emergency fine dust reduction measures issued this spring for metropolitan area

2025/03/11 10:00

Spring's first emergency fine dust reduction measures have been issued for South Korea's metropolitan region. The Ministry of Environment issued the emergency measures on Tuesday due to the high concentration of fine dust in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon areas between 6 AM and 9 PM. With the measures in place, grade-five emissions vehicles will be prohibited from operating, while work at construction sites must be scaled back. A high level of fine dust is expected to continue until Thursday due to an inflow of yellow dust from China.

[Short-form] Korea’s battle against fine dust

2025/03/11 14:00

Discover how Korea fights off this unwelcome guest every winter

[Kulture Issue] Places to travel in Seoul, in spring and solo

2025/03/11 14:00

Spring has arrived. Temperatures here in Korea are now hovering in the teens during the peak of the day. This means, lighter clothes, more outdoor activities and more traveling, either with family, friends or ALONE. Today, we invite tourism expert Darryl Bilbao, former PR Global Manager at the Seoul Tourism Organization into the studio, to have a chat on traveling in Seoul, especially alone. Welcome Darryl! 1) Darryl, please introduce yourself to the Kulture Wave viewers. 2) It’s a perfect time to talk about tourism and travel. It’s not only gotten warmer recently here in Korea, but travel figures are looking good. Especially here in the capital Seoul, the number of foreign tourists climbed past 12 million last year (12.12 mil.), close to the highest ever figure in 2019 (12.47 mil.), so before the pandemic. What are the reasons behind this surge? 3) What makes Seoul so attractive as a travel spot? 4) Darryl, you worked as a global PR manager for the Seoul Tourism Organization. You must have communicated a lot with foreign tourists. What are some memorable things they had to say about their trip to Seoul? 5) In recent years there has been a rising trend of doing things alone. “Honhaeng” meaning traveling alone is one of those. And amid that trend, Seoul recently has also been ranked as the number one city for solo travel by travel platform Tripadvisor. Why is that and do you agree that Seoul is a great place to visit solo? 6) Could you recommend any top spots to visit alone in Seoul this spring season? 7) As a tourism expert, maybe some last tips for solo travelers who choose Seoul as their next travel destination?

[Weather] Early spring conditions continue, ultra-fine dust in the west

2025/03/06 20:00

This morning, temperatures started at below zero degrees across the country. However, the daytime temperature rose to around 10 degrees Celsius in Seoul, feeling a lot like early spring. There are huge daily temperature gaps between morning and the middle of the day, so please dress in layers when you go outside. With warmer conditions, an uninvited guest has filled the atmosphere of the western regions. Looking at the ultra-fine dust forecast, Sejong, Chungcheongnam-do Province, Gwangju in Jeollanam-do Province, and Jeollabuk-do Province will have "bad" levels of ultra-fine dust tomorrow. Tomorrow morning will be a bit chilly with Seoul and Gyeongju at zero degrees, Daejeon at minus 2 degrees. Daily highs will be higher than today nationwide. Daejeon, Gwangju, and Jeju will reach 12 degrees. Seoul will rise up to 13 degrees on Sunday, and typical early spring weather will continue for the time being. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.