Seoul: first snow of the season covers the streets, walking around and taking precautions

From 6 p.m. on December 4, the first snow of the season fell 1-3 cm/hour, covering Seoul and surrounding areas; heavy snow warning level raised, traffic increased, pedestrians need to pay attention to black ice.

Since 6 p.m. on December 4, the first snow of the season has fallen 1-3 cm/hour, blanketing the streets of downtown and the suburbs of Seoul amid the cold weather. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) recorded some areas in Gyeonggi reaching 3 cm/hour, while northern Gyeonggi Province and the inland mountains of Gangwon Province are forecast to reach up to 8 cm in some places. In response to this development, the heavy snow warning has been raised from "attention" to "vigilance" in Seoul, Incheon, all of Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province.

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Walking in the snow: quiet streets, memorable moments

On the evening of December 4, streetlights and rooftops were covered in the first snow of the season. Near Hongik University (west of Seoul), tourists and residents stopped to take photos and make snowmen on the sidewalk. In Suwon (Gyeonggi Province), the main avenues were white, vehicles moving slowly in the silence of the cold night. In Bucheon (Gyeonggi Province), the football match between Bucheon FC and Suwon FC was canceled due to heavy snowfall, showing the clear impact of the first snow of the season.

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Where the snow falls heavily so you can feel the winter clearly

• West Seoul, near Hongik University: where many people stop to take pictures and make snowmen.
• Suwon, Gyeonggi Province: Snow- covered main avenues, slow traffic.
• Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province: Heavy snowfall forces sporting events to be canceled.
• Dobong District and Gangdong District: By 8 a.m. on December 5, snow had accumulated 4.7 cm and 4.2 cm, respectively; the temperature in Seoul dropped to minus 6.7 degrees Celsius, according to The Korea Times.
• Northern Gyeonggi and inland Gangwon mountains: forecast to reach 8 cm of snowfall.

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Travel and safety on snow days

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety of South Korea has activated its emergency response center. Seoul authorities have added 20 subway trains during the morning rush hour and extended peak bus hours by 30 minutes to ease traffic pressure. Authorities have spread calcium chloride to de-ice major roads, but congestion, bus delays and overloading still occur; at Sinpung Station, slippery roads have caused many people to fall repeatedly.

With the snow and rain likely to freeze overnight, authorities are warning residents and visitors to be cautious and watch out for slippery patches of ice and black ice. Public transport is advised when roads are slippery and visibility is low. Local authorities are also asked to speed up snow removal, clear congestion and check vulnerable structures such as greenhouses, barns and old houses.

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Weather and time to walk in the snow

During the night after the snow, the lowest temperature is forecast to range from minus 11 degrees Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature during the day is from 1 to 9 degrees Celsius. With the snow intensity of 1-3 cm/hour (some places 3 cm/hour) from the evening of December 4, the next morning there is a high risk of frost, affecting travel. During the two days of December 6-7, the cold air will weaken when the northwest wind changes to a warmer westerly wind, the temperature is forecast to increase slightly, more favorable for walking around the streets and taking pictures of snow still on the roofs and sidewalks.

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Suggested short itinerary for a snowy day

1. Evening: Visit the area near Hongik University to feel the first snow of the season, where many people take pictures and make snowmen.
2. Evening: travel by subway to the center; monitor traffic as some routes may be congested and slippery.
3. Next morning: consider a later departure time to avoid black ice; continue to use public transport as advised.

Important Note

• Heavy snow warnings are at "alert" level in Seoul, Incheon, all of Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province.
• The temperature in Seoul on the morning of December 5 recorded minus 6.7 degrees Celsius; by 8:00 a.m., snow accumulated 4.7 cm in Dobong district and 4.2 cm in Gangdong district.
• High risk of slippery, black ice tomorrow morning; walk and drive with extreme caution.
• Priority is given to public transport; some train and bus routes have extra trips and extended rush hours.
• The weekend of December 6-7 is forecast to be warmer as the wind changes direction, suitable for continuing to walk around and see the remaining snow.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/seoul-tuyet-dau-mua-phu-trang-dao-pho-va-luu-y-di-chuyen-10314089.html