The Korea Meteorological Administration said on Sunday that the river froze for the first time this winter, as subzero temperatures, which began earlier in the week with Ipchun or the official beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar, have persisted.
The river is officially considered frozen when the surface near the Hangang Bridge is completely covered with ice. The river usually freezes when temperatures stay below -10 degrees Celsius for more than five days, with daytime highs also remaining below zero.
The morning lows in the capital hovered between -11.8 and -11.5 degrees Celsius throughout the past week, with afternoon temperatures not rising above zero, creating sufficient conditions for the river to freeze.
This year's freezing came about a month later than the seasonal average and about 14 days later than last winter.
As climate change has led to warmer winters in recent years, the country has seen nine winters without the river freezing over since relevant records began in 1906, with the most recent in 2021.
Meanwhile, the frigid weather is expected to abate a little in the upcoming week, with temperatures returning to normal by midweek.
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