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Season’s First Snow Hits Seoul as Cold Wave Triggers Emergency Response

Officials warn of icy roads with a Friday morning freeze likely before a weekend warmup.

Overview

  • Snow reached Seoul during the Thursday evening commute with bursts of heavy snowfall, including rates up to 5 centimeters per hour in parts of the capital region.
  • Accumulation is generally 1 to 5 centimeters in central areas, with up to 8 centimeters in northern and eastern Gyeonggi and northern Gangwon, and most snow tapering by night.
  • Cold wave advisories remain in effect in parts of Gyeonggi and western Gangwon, and earlier heavy snow alerts covered west coast and island areas as Arctic air deepened the chill.
  • Seoul activated a level 1 snow response, deploying 5,052 personnel, 1,145 pieces of snow-removal equipment and 968 road cameras, and pre-treated major routes with de-icing agents.
  • Forecasters expect hazardous travel from overnight refreezing into Friday morning, then a gradual easing of the cold with temperatures rebounding over the weekend, reaching about 12 C in Seoul on Sunday.