Umbrellas today, paddings tomorrow. Cold air has settled in as the autumn rain that soaked the country moves out. Temperatures that rise to 15–18°C midday today will plunge to minus 1°C in Seoul by Saturday morning. The seasons are skipping ahead in just a single day.
As of 7 a.m. on the 5th, the entire country remains overcast with rain continuing until the morning. Busan has experienced heavy downpours since dawn, recording a temperature of 14°C with a 100% chance of precipitation at the same hour; rain will continue until around 11 a.m. before clearing up in many areas by the afternoon. Daejeon and Gwangju are also seeing rain until the morning, while Daegu and Jeju have rain forecasts extending into the afternoon.
Looking at city-by-city weather data (Apple Weather, as of 7 a.m. on November 5), today's daytime highs are 18°C in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Jeju, 17°C in Gwangju, and 15°C in Daejeon. Seoul starts the morning at 10°C, rising to 18°C as the sun peeks through the clouds in the afternoon, after which the chance of precipitation drops significantly.
The real issue is tomorrow. After the rain stops, cold northwest winds will flow in, causing temperatures to reverse sharply. Daytime highs on the 6th will be 13°C in Seoul, 12°C in Daejeon, 13°C in Busan, and 15°C in Daegu—3 to 5 degrees lower than today—while morning lows will drop to 2°C in Seoul, 3°C in Daejeon, and 5°C in Busan. Late autumn transitions into winter overnight.
The weekend will be even colder. On Saturday the 7th, Seoul will see a morning low of minus 1°C and a daytime high of 8°C, with Daejeon similarly starting at minus 1°C and reaching a high of 9°C. Busan will range from a morning low of 3°C to a high of 11°C, while Daegu and Jeju will see morning lows of 8–9°C and highs around 11°C. Early winter cold is settling in, with morning temperatures in the metropolitan area dipping below freezing. There is another forecast for rain in Seoul on Sunday the 8th (61% chance of precipitation).
Because the season is jumping straight into winter overnight, preparations need to be made quickly. Rapid temperature shifts are periods when respiratory illnesses increase and health risks for the elderly and children grow. Individuals should check their outerwear and heating systems, while local governments must look out for the elderly, outdoor workers, and vulnerable energy groups. The rain stops today, but winter preparations start now.
