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Korea has been seeing unseasonably warm days in the midst of winter, even after dongji or the winter solstice. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted the spring-like weather will continue until Saturday when a cold snap is expected to grip the nation.
According to the weather forecaster, the mercury soared above 10 degrees Celsius in most regions nationwide on Wednesday. The high point was recorded in Milyang, South Gyeongsang Province where the temperature was 17.5 degrees.
Seoul posted a record high winter temperature of 13.8 degrees on Wednesday, higher by 11.3 degrees than the normal average of 2.5 degrees. It was the highest temperature for late December since 1904 when weather forecasting began in Korea.
The daily average temperature in Seoul has hovered above zero for nearly two weeks since Dec. 15. Normally the temperature in Seoul at this time of year is below zero.
A KMA official said that warms winds from the south have prevented the expansion of cold air from the north into the Korean Peninsula. He attributed the warm weather to global warming.
However, the nation will see rain or snow on Saturday due to a low pressure system approaching from China. The temperature is expected to plunge by seven or eight degrees. Morning lows will reach minus 10 degrees in Seoul and central inland regions from Sunday to Wednesday, the KMA said.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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