Early Winter Grips Korea as Temperatures Plunge Below Freezing
It seems like autumn barely got a chance to settle in before winter decided to make an early entrance across South Korea. Over the past two days, a biting cold front swept down from the north, bringing the season’s first cold wave — and it’s been the coldest weather this fall so far.
On the morning of October 27th, the Korea Meteorological Administration reported that temperatures across much of the country dropped by five to ten degrees compared to the previous day. In Seoul, early morning lows fell to around 3.7°C, which is more than four degrees below the seasonal average. In parts of the metropolitan area like Paju, the mercury dipped below zero, marking subfreezing temperatures for the first time this autumn. Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province recorded the nation’s lowest temperature at a frosty -5.4°C.
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Due to this sharp drop, cold wave advisories were issued for northern Gyeonggi, Gangwon, parts of Chungbuk, and the inland areas of Gyeongbuk — marking the first such warnings of the season. According to the criteria, a cold wave advisory is announced when the morning temperature drops by more than 10 degrees from the previous day, falls below 3°C, and remains at least 3 degrees below average for the time of year.
And if you thought today was cold — tomorrow could be even colder. On October 28th, morning lows are expected to fall by another one to three degrees, with the cold snap reaching its peak. Thanks to clear skies overnight, radiative cooling will intensify, allowing temperatures to plummet further. Seoul could drop to around 2°C, while areas north of the capital like Yangju are expected to reach -3°C. In Gyeongbuk’s inland regions, including Bonghwa, temperatures could also fall to -3°C. The Korea Meteorological Administration has even expanded its cold wave advisories to include parts of Daegu and eastern Gyeongbuk.
For outdoor workers, commuters, and early risers, the sudden chill has been especially tough. Across Seoul, people have been seen bundled up in thick coats, scarves, and even carrying hot packs. Some rushed to buy winter gear on their way to work. One resident joked that it felt like autumn lasted only a week before winter abruptly took over.
The good news is that this cold spell won’t last too long. The freezing temperatures are expected to persist through the morning of the 29th before easing by afternoon, returning closer to seasonal norms. However, large temperature differences — up to 10 or even 15 degrees between day and night — will continue through the week.
Meteorologists are advising everyone to stay warm, keep an eye out for frost or early morning ice, and be mindful of the chilly mornings and evenings that can easily catch people off guard during this quick shift between seasons.
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