Chilliest fall weather yet expected over National Foundation Day weekend
Temperatures in Seoul are forecast to fall to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday morning, with rain also possible around the country.
Fall foliage spreads across the slopes between Daecheongbong peak and Hangyeryeong pass in Mount Seorak National Park in Sokcho, Gangwon, on Sept. 30. The foliage on Mount Seorak is expected to peak in mid-to-late October.YONHAP
Korea is expected to see its chilliest weather of the fall so far over the National Foundation Day holiday weekend as cold air from the north settles over the peninsula.
Seoul's morning low is forecast to fall to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, which is officially National Foundation Day and the start of a three-day holiday with a replacement day off on Monday, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Thursday. Brief but stormy rain could also hit most of the country during the break, so anyone planning an outing should be prepared.
"As high pressure expanded from the northwest, cold, dry air moved south, and temperatures dropped considerably to around 10 degrees Celsius, mainly in the central regions," Lee Kwang-yeon, a forecast analyst at the KMA, said at a regular briefing Thursday. "Until [Friday] morning, strong winds on top of the lower temperatures are expected to make the apparent temperature even lower."
Seoul's morning temperature fell to 14 degrees Celsius on Thursday from 16.6 degrees Celsius a day earlier, the KMA said. Some areas dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, including Paju, Gyeonggi, at 8.3 degrees Celsius and Cheorwon, Gangwon, at 9.5 degrees Celsius.
Skies are expected to stay mostly clear from Friday, while the cold air continues to pull temperatures down.
Pedestrians walk across an intersection near Gwanghwamun in Jongno District, central Seoul, on a chilly fall morning on Oct. 1.NEWS1
Frost could form in northeastern Gyeonggi, northeastern North Gyeongsang and parts of Gangwon. Care is needed to prevent damage to crops during the harvest season.
Rain is also in the holiday forecast. A low-pressure system developing from Sunday night to Monday morning is expected to bring rain to the central regions, including the greater Seoul area, as well as Gwangju, Jeolla and Jeju.
"The rain will not last long, but it is expected to come with gusts of wind, thunder and lightning," Lee said. "The rain could also spread to parts of the Gyeongsang region."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
