Cold to Delay Blossoming by Few Days

Published on 2012/03/01 | Source

Flowers will begin to bloom a couple of days later this year than in previous years, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Tuesday. But compared to 2011, which was still bitterly cold in early spring, they will reveal themselves two to four days earlier.

According to the KMA, forsythias will start to bloom in Seogwipo, Jeju, on March 17, or around March 20-27 in the southern part of the country, and between March 26 and April 4 in the central region.

Azaleas are also expected to start to bud in Jeju's top harbor city from March 21, before coming into flower in the southern region on March 23-31, and then in the central region on April 1-7.

The KMA forecast that forsythias and azaleas will be in full bloom around one week after they start to flower. In Seoul, the two flowers will likely peak around April 9-12.

"Until last Sunday, the average temperature for February stood at -1.1 degrees Celsius, down 2.1 degrees from the 30-year average between 1981 and 2010", A KMA official said. "Flowers are expected to blossom later this spring than in previous years".