[DiaryPoint | Reporter Eom Ju-yong] Seoul saw its first snow of the season on the morning of Nov. 8. As of 10 a.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration said the first snow arrived 26 days earlier than last year and 12 days earlier than average. In a weather briefing issued at 4:40 a.m., the agency forecast rain, mainly across central parts of the country, and chilly temperatures.
Seoul’s first-snow date is based on when snow is observed at the Seoul Meteorological Observatory in Songwol-dong, Jongno-gu, rather than whether it snows across the entire city. According to the KMA, the date is determined through direct visual observation by staff at the station. The average first-snow date is Nov. 20; last year, it was observed on Dec. 4.
Rain and snow flurries were reported in Seoul and the surrounding capital region, but the KMA said the precipitation was too light for snow to accumulate in Seoul. The forecast called for about 5 millimeters of precipitation in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and the five West Sea islands. The agency also said scattered showers of less than 0.1 millimeter could occur in parts of the capital region and Gangwon Province between 9 a.m. and noon.
Snow could accumulate in northeastern Gyeonggi and the mountains of Gangwon. The KMA forecast around 1 centimeter in Gangwon’s mountainous areas, noting that rain or snow may vary within the same city or county depending on elevation and temperature. Total precipitation was forecast to remain below 5 millimeters across Gangwon, as well as in parts of northern Chungcheong and northern North Gyeongsang provinces where rain is expected.
The KMA warned that rain or snow could freeze and create thin patches of ice on roads in northeastern Gyeonggi and inland and mountainous parts of Gangwon. It urged drivers to leave plenty of room between vehicles and slow down. Where precipitation falls, visibility may be reduced and roads may be slippery. Highs of 7 to 10 degrees Celsius were forecast for Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi on Nov. 8, with chilly daytime temperatures expected to continue for the time being.
Rain in Seoul, the capital region and Gangwon is expected to taper off in most areas late at night. Rain is also forecast from the evening in northern South Chungcheong, central and northern North Chungcheong, and northern North Gyeongsang. On Nov. 9, rain is expected mainly across southern parts of the country and Jeju Island. The KMA said rain would begin on Jeju late on Nov. 8, in South Jeolla in the early hours of Nov. 9, and in North Jeolla, southern North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang in the afternoon, easing in most areas by evening.