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Nature and EnvironmentSouth Korea

South Korea's Seoul inundated by record November snowfall

November 27, 2024

A major snowstorm has blanketed much of South Korea, grounding flights and disrupting traffic. In Seoul, it was the highest snow accumulation in the month of November since records began in 1907.

https://p.dw.com/p/4nTfu
Visitors enjoy in snow at the Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea's well-known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea
Snow was expected to continue falling in most parts of the country until ThursdayImage: Lee Jin-man/AP/picture alliance

South Korea's capital, Seoul, was hit by the worst November snowstorm in more than a century on Wednesday.

The snow knocked out power, disrupted transportation, grounded flights and left at least two people dead. 

It was Seoul's first snow of the winter season, with more than 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) falling in the city's north, according to the national weather agency.

That broke the previous record of 12.4 centimeters set on November 28, 1972, and marked the city's heaviest November snowfall since records began in 1907.

The storm covered other parts of the country as well, with the central, eastern and southwestern regions also getting a large amount of snow.

Visitors play with snow as they take selfies at the Gyeongbok Palace
Tourists visiting Seoul went out to take photos in the white winter landscapeImage: Lee Jin-man/AP/picture alliance

What caused the unusually heavy snow?

Seoul's Meteorology Forecast Division told the French AFP news agency that the heavy snowfall was caused by a "significant temperature difference between the sea surface and the cold air."

"Over the West Sea, moisture forms, and when cold air from the north moves down as it typically does, if the West Sea is also cold as in previous years, the temperature difference is smaller," the agency's director Youn Ki-han explained. 

But unusually warm temperatures in recent weeks made the difference more pronounced.

A worker shovels snow near a monument in remembrance of the Korean War at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul
Emergency workers were deployed to respond to falling trees and other risks from the weather conditionsImage: Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo/picture alliance

Youn added that "the strong snow was consistently carried by the westerly winds, pushing it into the Seoul metropolitan area.

"Snow kept falling in the same areas repeatedly, leading to greater accumulation," he said.

Snow was expected to continue falling until noon on Thursday, with up to 20 centimeters of additional snowfall forecast, the weather agency said.

Cars stuck in traffic as heavy snow falls in Seoul on Nov 27, 2024.
Heavy snow and icy roads severely impacted Seoul traffic Image: Yonhap/picture alliance

Hundreds of flights canceled or delayed

More than 300 flights were canceled or delayed at airports across the country, while nearly 100 ferries serving islands were suspended.

Icy road conditions took a toll on the morning commute in Seoul, causing severe congestion, while emergency workers across the country responded to fallen trees, signs, and other safety risks. 

Residents in Seoul were urged to "refrain from operating vehicles and engaging in outdoor activities" and to "beware of falling trees."

Power was cut to thousands of households in several parts of the capital.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, meanwhile, asked the safety and transport ministries to mobilize all available relevant personnel and equipment to "minimize potential damage and public inconvenience caused by the snow."

Snow blankets South Korea
Snow blanketed Seoul causing power outages and transportation disruptionsImage: Yonhap/picture alliance

jcg/nm (AFP, AP)