Seoul: The heaviest snowfall for November in 117 years blanketed Seoul and the surrounding regions, causing injuries, disrupting traffic, and cutting off power supplies, with authorities remaining on high alert for more snow later this week. As of 3 p.m., the capital city received 18 centimeters of snow, marking the biggest snowfall in November since modern weather observations began in 1907.According to Yonhap News Agency, the new record coincided with the first snow of the season in Seoul, surpassing the previous record of 12.4 cm set on November 28, 1972, as reported by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Incheon, located west of Seoul, also experienced record snowfall for November, measuring 14.8 cm by 3 p.m., beating the former record of 8 cm set in 1972. Suwon, south of Seoul, received 21 cm of snow, marking the largest November precipitation ever recorded there.Snow and rain are expected nationwide until Thursday morning, although precipitation will continue into the afternoon in parts o f Gangwon Province and North Gyeongsang Province and until late Friday night in the Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces, as well as on Jeju Island. In response, the interior ministry upgraded the operations of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to Level 2 and raised the heavy snow warning from "caution" to "alert."The snowfall has led to significant disruptions. In Seoul's Songpa district, three individuals were injured due to a snow fence collapse near a construction site, with one suffering a serious injury. In Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, a worker at a golf range experienced cardiac arrest after steel-framed nets fell on him while shoveling snow. This incident resulted in a minor injury to one of his colleagues.Power outages affected more than 170 households in Seoul's Seongbuk district at 5:30 a.m., likely due to trees falling on telegraph poles and electric wires under the snow's weight, as reported by the Korea Electric Power Corp. Additional households in Eunpyeo ng-gu experienced power interruptions. In Gangwon Province, car crashes due to heavy snow resulted in one fatality and nine injuries.The adverse weather conditions also impacted air travel, with 150 flights canceled nationwide, including 71 flights at Incheon International Airport, as per the Korea Airports Corp. and Incheon International Airport Corp. Furthermore, the operation of 89 passenger ferries on 70 routes was halted, and seven national parks, including those at Mount Bukhan and Mount Seorak, were restricted to visitors.Authorities warned of potential traffic congestion during rush hours, pile-up accidents on icy roads, and pedestrian safety issues due to the heavy snow. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min directed officials to ensure thorough snow removal operations. The Seoul metropolitan government, in collaboration with district governments and relevant agencies, began snow removal at 7 a.m., focusing on entryways of subway stations and bus stations. To accommodate commuters, the city extended sub way and intra-city bus operations during morning and evening rush hours by 30 minutes on Lines 2, and 5 through 8, maintaining these extended hours until the Level 2 response is lifted.
- October 12, 2026
