People in jackets cross a street near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Oct. 2.NEWS1
Morning temperatures in Daegwallyeong ridge in Gangwon fell below freezing on Friday for the first time this fall, with National Foundation Day on Saturday to be chilly than average years.
Green-tinted water fills the Doam Dam waterway in Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang County, Gangwon, on Sept. 8.YONHAP
The morning low in Daegwallyeong ridge fell to minus 0.3 degrees Celsius (31.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, 7.1 degrees Celsius (12.8 degrees Fahrenheit) below the seasonal average, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.
Temperatures dropped to 3.3 degrees Celsius in Cheorwon, Gangwon, 4.5 degrees Celsius in Paju, Gyeonggi, and 5.7 degrees Celsius in Chungju, North Chungcheong, bringing a chilly morning to central parts of the country.
Temperatures are expected to rise to between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius during the day as sunshine returns, similar to Thursday's levels.
The cold weather will continue through Saturday morning. Morning lows are forecast to range from 5 to 16 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs of 21 to 24 degrees Celsius.
Compared with seasonal averages of 9 to 17 degrees Celsius for morning lows and 22 to 25 degrees Celsius for daytime highs, afternoon temperatures will be near normal while morning temperatures will be considerably lower.
Morning temperatures are expected to fall to 5 degrees Celsius or below in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon and the mountainous areas of northeastern North Gyeongsang. Frost may form in parts of northeastern Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon and the mountainous areas of northeastern North Gyeongsang. Ice may even form in some mountainous areas of Gangwon.
The cold spell is due to the influence of a high-pressure system moving eastward from northern China on Friday.
"Cold air flowing in from the north will keep morning temperatures low through [Saturday]," the KMA said in a weather advisory. "Please take particular care to protect crops from sudden temperature changes."
People in jackets and coats walk near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Oct. 2.NEWS1
The weather will shift from Sunday, with morning lows rising to between 9 and 18 degrees Celsius. But inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon will remain chilly at 10 degrees Celsius or below.
Between Sunday morning and afternoon, 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) of rain is expected in Busan, Ulsan and the eastern coast of North Gyeongsang. Less than 5 millimeters of rain is forecast late Sunday night in Seoul, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi and northern inland areas of Gangwon. Some areas receiving rain late at night may see gusty winds, thunder and lightning.
On Monday, a substitute holiday, rain is expected across central Korea, the Jeolla provinces and Jeju Island from dawn through morning. Skies will gradually clear from the west in the afternoon.
People heading outdoors or hiking during the National Foundation Day holiday period are advised to bring an extra layer to prepare for large temperature swings between day and night. Drivers in areas receiving rain should slow down as visibility may be reduced and roads may become slippery.
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.
