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Forecast calls for warm weekend with cherry blossoms blooming, fine dust descending

Published: 26 Mar. 2026, 19:08 Updated: 26 Mar. 2026, 19:32

Pedestrians walk past blooming cherry blossom trees in Gwangju on March 26. [NEWS1]

Pretty, but dusty — Spring has bloomed with the start of cherry blossom season, but fine dust pollution is expected to blanket the skies over the weekend.

Warm weather will continue thanks to the influence of a moving high-pressure system typical of spring, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Thursday.

“These conditions are expected to persist over the weekend,” said Gong Sang-min, a KMA forecast analyst.

Daytime temperatures in Seoul are expected to reach around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), with above-average temperatures likely nationwide. However, morning temperatures will drop below 10 degrees Celsius, creating a daily temperature gap of up to 15 degrees.

Visitors enjoy spring in South Jeolla on March 15. [YONHAP]

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in southern regions.

Seasonal observations by the KMA confirmed the first cherry blossoms in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, on Tuesday. Cherry blossom festivals are also set to begin nationwide, starting with the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival — the country’s largest such event — which opens Friday.

Air quality, however, remains a concern. As of 2 p.m. Thursday, ultrafine dust levels across much of the country, including Seoul, were “bad,” ranging from 36 to 75 micrograms per cubic meter.

It is expected to worsen on Friday as additional fine dust flows in from abroad on northwesterly winds. Ultrafine dust levels in the Seoul metropolitan area, Sejong and North Chungcheong are forecast to reach “very bad” levels — above 76 micrograms per cubic meter — in the morning and at night. High concentrations are expected to persist through the weekend, particularly in the capital region.

Pedestrians walk in masks in the streets of Seoul amid a fine dust warning on March 17. [NEWS1]

March has seen frequent episodes of poor air quality. In Seoul, there were 10 days between March 1 and Wednesday when ultrafine dust levels reached “bad” or worse.

The worsening pollution is attributed to drier-than-usual conditions and stagnant air caused by persistent high-pressure systems.

“These systems create downward air flow, causing fine dust particles to remain near the ground,” said Woo Jin-gyu, a KMA official. “Wearing a mask can help when spending time outdoors.”

Pedestrians wearing masks walk through Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Feb. 22, 2026, as a fine dust advisory is issued for the capital region due to yellow dust. [YONHAP]

Rain is expected early next week, bringing relief from the dusty air.

Precipitation is forecast nationwide on Monday and Tuesday due to a low-pressure system moving in from the south, which is expected to wash away fine dust and improve air quality.

“Temperatures will remain above average over the weekend with clear and dry conditions, but will return to seasonal norms early next week as clouds and rain move in,” Gong said.

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]]