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Windy weather sends temperatures plummeting

Published: 06 Nov. 2023, 19:17 Updated: 07 Nov. 2023, 10:21

CHO JUNG-WOO
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People walk through strong winds in downtown Seoul on Monday. [YONHAP]

Korea will experience a cold snap accompanied by strong gusts of wind on Tuesday.

Seoul’s morning low is expected to plummet to three degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit), with wind chill temperatures falling to as low as minus one degree Celsius.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), temperatures across the country on Tuesday morning will plunge over 10 degrees Celsius compared to the previous day. Midday highs in the country will hover around 7 to 18 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency blames northerly winds for the plunging temperatures.

The KMA issued cold wave alerts in the central regions of the country, including the northern parts of Seoul, from 9 p.m. Monday.

In Seoul, midday temperatures are forecast to stay around 10 degrees Celsius. Wind chill temperatures in Taebaek of Gangwon will drop to as low as minus seven degrees Celsius, and those of Daegwallyeong to minus nine degrees Celsius.

Parts of the country, such as the northeastern areas of Gyeonggi, inland and mountainous regions of Gangwon, and North Gyeongsang, may see snow due to the subzero temperatures. Approximately 1 to 3 centimeters of snow are expected to accumulate in Gangwon.

The abrupt cold snap is forecast to sweep through the country due to wind gusts.

On Monday, strong wind warnings were issued in most of the country. A typhoon-like gust moving at 139 kilometers per hour (86 miles per hour) hit the Misiryeong area of Gangwon.

Construction material falls in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, due to strong wind gusts on Monday morning, damaging a nearby car. [YONHAP]

The powerful winds also struck the capital on Monday, causing severe injuries. Two passersby were injured after a construction panel fell and hit them near a construction site in Mapo District, western Seoul, at around 3:30 p.m. Monday.

A woman in her 50s was knocked out and hospitalized, and a man in his 40s suffered head injuries. The woman was reportedly still unconscious as of 6 p.m. the same day.

A car was damaged in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, after it was hit by building material on Monday morning.

In Jamsil-dong of Songpa District in southern Seoul, a tree fell, blocking the way of two cars on the road.

According to Incheon's metropolitan government and the city’s fire headquarters, 50 storm and flood damage reports were received from Sunday to 2 p.m. Monday.

Through Tuesday morning, powerful winds at instantaneous wind speeds of 20 to 25 meters per second (45 to 56 miles per hour) will blow across most areas of the country, with winds moving at over 30 meters per second also expected, the KMA warned.

The weather agency urged the public to exercise caution.

The cold weather is expected to persist through Wednesday morning, with the mercury returning to average annual temperatures afterward.

BY CHON KWON-PIL, CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]