Winter and spring weather patterns intertwine across the Korean Peninsula as a warm, mobile high-pressure system settles in the west while a cold, maritime high-pressure system dominates the east. This division is expected to create stark contrasts in weather conditions for the coming days. From February 12 to 13, the eastern regions, particularly Gangwon Province, will experience heavy snowfall with up to 20 centimeters of snowfall, while the western areas, including Seoul, will see temperatures rise to 11-13 degrees Celsius, marking a typical spring-like scenario. The Korea Meteorological Agency issued a snow warning for Gangwon Province’s northern and central mountainous areas starting at 5 a.m. on February 12, followed by a warning for the southern mountainous regions by 6 a.m. Snowfall is expected to accumulate to 5-15 centimeters by the end of the day, with some areas seeing over 20 centimeters. In contrast, the northeastern coastal regions of Gyeongju will receive less than 1 centimeter of snow, while mountainous areas in the northeast will see 1-5 centimeters. The unusual weather pattern is attributed to shifts in the atmospheric pressure systems. As the Siberian high-pressure system weakens, a cold maritime high-pressure system moves toward the northeast, generating strong easterly winds that collide with the Taebaek Mountains, triggering snowfall. Meteorologist Kang Hye-mi explained, “The weakening of the Siberian high-pressure system has caused a shift in the pressure gradient, leading to the movement of cold air masses and increased precipitation.” By late afternoon on February 12, snowfall in Gangwon Province’s Ganghwa Island had already reached 74.1 centimeters.#seoul #korea_meteorological_agency #gangwon_province #taebaek_mountains #bongeunsa_temple
