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Wet, heavy snow possible as precipitation, cold expected over much of the country Monday

Published: 01 Mar. 2026, 15:54

A snow removal truck clears ice on a road in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang on Feb. 25. [YONHAP]

Snow and rain will fall nationwide on Monday, while Gangwon could see up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) of snow, with forecasters warning that heavy, wet snow may damage structures and disrupt traffic.

“Rain or snow will fall nationwide on Monday due to the influence of a low-pressure system passing south of Jeju Island,” said Lee Chang-jae, forecast analyst at the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), on Sunday. “Gangwon's Yeongdong region will see very heavy snow as easterly winds add to the system.”

Snow and rain will begin in the Yeongdong region — the eastern coastal area of Gangwon along the East Sea — and on Jeju on Sunday night before spreading nationwide on Monday.

Most regions will see precipitation end on Monday, but the east coast, including Yeongdong, will likely see snow continue through Tuesday afternoon.

Gangwon will see intense snowfall from Monday morning through early Tuesday under the influence of easterly winds, with snowfall reaching up to 5 centimeters per hour.

Mountain areas in Gangwon will likely record 10 to 30 centimeters of snow, with some locations receiving more than 40 centimeters. The KMA issued a heavy snow advisory for northern mountain areas in Gangwon on Sunday.

The snow will contain large amounts of moisture and weigh 2 to 3 times more than typical snowfall, the KMA said.

Weak structures, including greenhouses covered with plastic and temporary buildings, may not withstand the weight.

In the Seoul metropolitan area, temperatures will fall to around zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday night, which may turn rain into snow.

People walk with umbrellas as snow falls in Daejeon on Feb. 24. [NEWS1]

Eastern Gyeonggi and North Chungcheong will likely receive 1 to 5 centimeters of snow, while Seoul will likely see less than 1 centimeter.
“Minor temperature changes can alter the type and amount of snowfall,” Lee said. “If temperatures fall further, snowfall in the Seoul metropolitan area could increase.”

Jeju and parts of the southern coast will likely see strong winds between Monday and Tuesday. High waves will continue in waters off Jeju through Wednesday, and authorities may issue a storm warning. Travelers should check flight and ferry schedules in advance, as weather conditions may disrupt air and sea routes.

Although spring has begun, temperatures will gradually decline toward the end of the week. Another round of rain or snow will fall nationwide on Friday.

“Daytime temperatures early in the week will hover around 15 degrees Celsius, which is warmer than average, but will fall to around 10 degrees Celsius later in the week,” Lee said. “After precipitation on Friday, temperatures will return to seasonal norms.”

On Tuesday, the first full moon of the lunar year, most regions will likely observe a total lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Earth completely blocks sunlight from reaching the moon. It will mark the first time since 1990 that the first full moon of the lunar year coincides with a total lunar eclipse.

The first full moon of the lunar year marks the first full moon after the lunar new year and carries traditional significance for harvest and good fortune in Korea.

Cloud cover from easterly winds may obstruct views in eastern regions, but most other areas will likely have clear skies and a chance to observe the eclipse.

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.
BY CHON KWON-PIL [[email protected]]