The Seoul metropolitan region has been experiencing heavy snowfall in South Korea, marking the third-heaviest accumulation since records began in 1907. More than 40 cm of snow had fallen by Thursday morning, severely affecting day-to-day activities. By 10 a.m. on Thursday, the severe snow warnings that had been in effect were cancelled as the weather started to improve. In Gyeonggi Province, which is close to Seoul, the snowstorm caused disruptions to schools, and officials permitted school closures due to hazardous weather conditions.

The exceptionally heavy snowfall in November is believed to result from warmer-than-normal seawater temperatures west of the Korean Peninsula interacting with cold air currents.

On the second day of heavy snowfall, the city government mobilized 11,000 workers and 20,000 pieces of equipment to carry out snow removal efforts in the capital. Authorities reported 131 temporary power outages, of which 46 were resolved by Wednesday evening.

Travel Disruptions Amid Heavy Snowfall in South Korea

The blizzard severely disrupted transportation. At Incheon Airport, delays averaged two hours, with 15% of aircraft experiencing delays and over 140 flights being cancelled. By Thursday, 99 ferries were halted on 76 routes, significantly impacting ferry operations. Delays in train operations also made travelling more difficult for thousands of people.

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Fatalities and Accidents Due to Infrastructure Collapses and Hazardous Roads

Unfortunately, the intense snowfall caused several fatalities and injuries. A golf range net fell under the weight of the snow, killing one person and injuring two more. At a parking lot, a protective tent collapsed, resulting in another death. At least two additional people were killed in car incidents on routes east of Seoul. In another event, a 53-vehicle pile-up on a highway in Wonju, Gangwon Province, wounded 11 people. Cold air currents combined with unusually warm ocean temperatures were cited as key factors behind the heavy snowfall in South Korea, which also affected North Korea, where over 10 cm of snow was reported in some regions.

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