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Temperatures to drop sharply with cold wave advisory in effect for Gangwon

Published: 06 Apr. 2026, 17:13

A magpie nest on a cherry blossom tree in Daegu on April 6 [NEWS1]

A late cold snap is expected after rain tapers off Monday afternoon, with temperatures dropping sharply overnight and a cold wave advisory issued for parts of Gangwon.

Heavy rain fell across much of the country on Monday before easing in the afternoon in central regions, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The rain is expected to stop in Jeolla and North Gyeongsang in the afternoon, while South Gyeongsang and Jeju will have most of the rain stop by Monday evening.

“In areas where it rains, there may be thunder and lightning with gusty winds, and hail may fall, mainly in Chungcheong and the southern regions,” the KMA said. “Please take extra care with crops and facilities and watch for safety accidents.”

Cold air is expected to move in from the northwest starting in the afternoon, pushing temperatures down significantly overnight. Morning temperatures on Tuesday are expected to fall by about 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (9 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit) from the previous day, with inland areas likely to hover around zero degrees Celsius. With winds also picking up, it is expected to feel even colder.

In Seoul, Tuesday morning’s low is forecast at 3 degrees Celsius, with wind chill expected to make it feel closer to 1 degree Celsius. Wind chill in inland areas of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong and in Gangwon could drop to minus seven degrees Celsius. A cold wave advisory was issued for Taebaek and the southern mountainous areas of Gangwon as of 9 p.m. Monday.

A pedestrian walks with an umbrella in Daegu near cherry blossom trees on April 6. [NEWS1]

The cold snap is expected to continue through Wednesday morning before easing, with daytime temperatures returning to seasonal norms.

“Ice may form or frost may develop from dawn to morning on Tuesday and Wednesday, mainly inland,” a KMA spokesperson said. “Older adults and children with weaker immune systems should dress warmly when going out, and people should take care of their health amid the rapid temperature changes.”

Yellow dust carried by northwesterly winds is also expected to affect air quality through Tuesday. Yellow dust that originated in the Gobi Desert and the Inner Mongolia Plateau on Sunday is expected to pass over the Korean Peninsula after moving through the Shandong Peninsula, raising fine dust levels Monday, the KMA said. The agency also warned that yellow dust could mix with rain.

The yellow dust is expected to continue through Tuesday, with fine dust levels forecast to reach “bad” in the Seoul metropolitan area Tuesday morning and in Gangwon from early morning through late morning, making it advisable to wear a mask outdoors.

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]]