Seoul experienced its first snowfall of the season at the same time as the new record.
Seoul, Nov. 27: Authorities are on high alert for further snow later this week after Seoul and the surrounding areas received the most snowfall for November in 117 years on Wednesday, resulting in injuries, traffic jams, and power outages.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the capital city has gotten 18 centimeters of snow as of 3 pm, the most snowfall in November since modern weather measurements started in 1907.
Seoul experienced its first snowfall of the season at the same time as the new record.
According to the state weather bureau, the previous record was 12.4 cm, which was established on November 28, 1972.
As of 3 pm, the city of Incheon, located west of Seoul, had recorded a record 14.8 cm of snowfall for November, surpassing the previous record of 8 cm established in 1972, according to Yonhap news agency.
The KMA reports that as of 3 pm, Suwon, south of Seoul, had gotten 21 cm of snow, the most ever for any November precipitation.
Rain and snow are expected across the country until Thursday morning, although in some areas of North Gyeongsang and Gangwon provinces, the precipitation will last into the afternoon. In the provinces of Chungcheong and Jeolla, as well as on Jeju Island, the precipitation is expected to last until late Friday night.
The heavy snow warning was upped from "caution" to "alert" by the interior ministry, which also upgraded the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' activities to Level 2.
As of 7 am on Wednesday, Seongbuk Ward and Gangbuk Ward in the city's north had received 20.6 cm and 20.4 cm of snow, respectively. The Seoul weather station in Jongno Ward is where standard measures for the capital city are taken.
The KMA and the Seoul metropolitan government declared a heavy snow warning for the northeastern districts of Seoul, which include Nowon, Seongbuk, and Dobong. When there is 20 cm of snowfall in a 24-hour period, a warning is issued.
A snow barrier outside a construction site fell in Songpa area of Seoul, injuring three people who were sent to neighboring hospitals. Police and fire officials said that one of them was seriously injured.
In Seoul's Seongbuk neighborhood, trees probably fell on telegraph poles and electric wires due to the weight of the heavy snow, causing a blackout that affected over 170 families about 5:30 am, according to the Korea Electric Power Corp.
According to Yonhap news agency, power outages also affected dozens of other homes in Eunpyeong-gu.
According to local authorities, heavy snow caused car crashes in Gangwon Province that resulted in one fatality and nine injuries.
According to Korea Airports Corp. and Incheon International Airport Corp., as of 6 p.m., 150 flights have been canceled at airports around the country because of the snow, including 71 flights at Incheon International Airport, which is located west of Seoul.
Entry to seven national parks, including Mount Bukhan and Mount Seorak, was limited, while 89 passenger boats operating on 70 routes were suspended worldwide.
In addition, the disaster control tower issued a warning about pile-up accidents on ice roads, heavy snow causing pedestrian safety hazards, and traffic congestion during morning and evening rush hours.
Officials were directed by Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to carry out snow clearing activities in a thorough manner.
The Seoul metropolitan government, in collaboration with district governments and other pertinent authorities, started clearing snow from subway station entrances and the areas surrounding bus stations at 7 a.m.
Additionally, the city increased the duration of intra-city bus service and the subway's morning and evening rush hour operations by 30 minutes on Lines 2 and 5 through 8, when trains arrive at more frequent intervals.
Until Level 2 of the three-tier response structure is removed, the additional hours will remain in place.
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