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Freezing cold weather in Korea expected to peak over the weekend

January 22, 2016
Giant icicles hang from the eave of a home in Gwangju, 329 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Jan. 22, 2016. The freezing cold that swept across the country this week is expected to peak over the weekend. (Yonhap)

Giant icicles hang from the eave of a home in Gwangju, 329 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Jan. 22, 2016. The freezing cold that swept across the country this week is expected to peak over the weekend. (Yonhap)

By The Korea Times Seoul staff

SEOUL — Severe cold weather has prevailed in most parts of the country through Saturday for the sixth day in a row.

The very cold high pressure system from northern China has caused temperatures to drop sharply on the Korean Peninsula since early in the week, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The cold spell is expected to reach its peak on Sunday or Monday, when the temperature could drop to below minus 15 degrees Celsius in Seoul, as well as in northern Gyeonggi and eastern Gangwon provinces.

According to the calendar’s seasonal divisions of the year, this time of year is usually the coldest period, with Koreans calling it “Daehan,” meaning the intense cold that usually comes around Jan. 21.

As of 5 a.m. Saturday, temperatures dropped to minus 9.6 degrees Celsius in Seoul; minus 8.5 degrees in Incheon; minus 8.0 degrees in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province; minus 8.0 degrees in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

The mercury also dropped below zero in the central and southern parts of the country, with minus 6.8 degrees Celsius in Daejeon and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province; minus 5.0 degrees in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province; minus 8.4 degrees in Gwangju; minus 9.2 degrees in Daegu; and minus 6.9 degrees in Busan.

The KMA also said that a fire advisory has been issued in some parts of the nation as the dry weather will continue in the eastern part of Gangwon Province and some parts of Gyeongsang Province.