Unusually Warm Winter Lies Ahead

People walk on a snow-covered trail in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province on Monday. /Yonhap

Temperatures this winter are expected to be warmer than usual, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

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A cold Siberian high-pressure front is expected to be weaker from December to February than in previous years.

Higher temperatures mean air masses can be trapped over the Korean peninsula. As a result, weathermen warned of high levels of air pollution.   

The National Institute of Environmental Research said fine dust levels are not caused by a single meteorological factor, so it is difficult to make predictions one or two months ahead, but if pollutant emissions both in Korea and overseas are similar to last year, smoggy days are likely to become more frequent.

Weathermen also forecast little snow this winter. Kim Dong-joon at the KMA said, "From a long-term perspective, the amount of snowfall is declining due to global warming".