Clouds float across a clear autumn sky above an apartment construction site in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, on Sept. 10.NEWS1
Cool autumn weather has suddenly settled over Korea, as morning temperatures dropped to as low as 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday.
Seoul recorded a morning low of 15.8 degrees Celsius, down 2 degrees Celsius from the previous day, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. The temperature was also more than 3 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average of 18.9 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures fell to 10 degrees Celsius in Yeongwol County, Gangwon, and to 9.1 degrees Celsius in Daegwallyeong.
“The high-pressure system north of Korea has strengthened and expanded compared to last week, which means cold air from the north is affecting the country,” KMA forecast analyst Kang Hye-mi said during a briefing Thursday. “As cold, dry air moved southward, temperatures across most inland areas fell to between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius, lower than yesterday.”
The heat is likely to ease noticeably even during the day, as cloudy skies keep Seoul's temperature at around 23 degrees Celsius.
Typical autumn weather, with chilly mornings and warmer afternoons, is forecast to continue through the weekend. Seoul's morning temperature is forecast to remain at around 15 degrees Celsius on Friday before rising to 28 degrees Celsius during the day, creating a temperature swing of more than 10 degrees Celsius.
People wearing long sleeves walk through an intersection in Gwanghwamun in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Sept. 8.NEWS1
The influence of the cold northern air is likely to weaken toward the weekend. Relatively warm westerly winds are forecast to arrive under the influence of a migratory high-pressure system, gradually pushing up morning temperatures. In Seoul, morning lows are forecast to rise to 17 degrees Celsius on Saturday and 19 degrees Celsius on Sunday, narrowing the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures to less than 10 degrees Celsius.
“The cold air is at its strongest now,” KMA forecaster Woo Jin-kyu said. “The northerly winds will weaken afterward, and the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures will also decrease.”
Cool autumn weather is expected to continue next week, though temperature differences between day and night could reach 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in inland areas.
Weather patterns could become more volatile toward the latter half of next week, and there is a possibility of another typhoon developing to the south.
“Numerical models are simulating an undeveloped tropical disturbance — a potential precursor to a typhoon — over waters to the south next week,” Kang said. “It has not formed yet, and there is considerable uncertainty in the atmospheric pattern, with models differing on its timing, intensity and path.”
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.
