South Korea to offer 10-day weather forecasts, expand snow alerts

South Korea's Meteorological Administration (KMA) is set to significantly enhance its weather forecasting services, offering more precise and timely information to the public. Starting in November, the agency will provide mid-term forecasts with greater spatial and temporal resolution, moving from broad regional predictions to more granular data.

Currently, mid-term forecasts cover large administrative regions like metropolitan cities and provinces, with updates provided in half-day or full-day intervals. The KMA plans to refine this by offering forecasts for specific 5-kilometer grid areas, with updates every 3 to 6 hours for forecasts covering 6 to 11 days ahead. Additionally, the agency will provide more detailed information on precipitation probability, categorizing it into four levels (high, medium, low, almost none), and will include information on temperature fluctuations and trends, enabling users to better plan for weather changes.

The "heavy snow disaster alert" system, which utilizes mobile alerts to warn of potential disasters from heavy snowfall, will be expanded nationwide starting in December. This system was piloted in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungnam, and Jeonbuk regions last winter. Alerts will be triggered based on snowfall rates, such as 5 centimeters accumulating within an hour (for traffic accidents) or 20 centimeters within 24 hours combined with 3 centimeters in an hour (for structural collapse). Snowfall thresholds will be adjusted based on regional characteristics, with higher standards for areas like Gangwon Province.

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We plan to provide more detailed mid-term forecasts starting in November, offering predictions for 5km zones every 3 to 6 hours.

Beyond weather, the KMA is also bolstering its seismic monitoring. By November, its surveillance area will expand beyond Japan's Kyushu region to include the Nankai Trough and western Honshu, covering longitudes up to 136 degrees. Furthermore, the agency is developing a service by December to prepare for "long-period ground motion," seismic waves that can travel long distances and cause significant shaking.

In support of renewable energy, the KMA will begin providing customized forecasts for solar irradiance and wind speeds up to five days in advance, with hourly updates, starting in September. Preparations are also underway to develop the foundation for a "national climate prediction system" by December, aiming to provide climate predictions for the next decade. The agency also announced plans for AI-driven transformations across its weather and climate services.

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The heavy snow disaster alert system, piloted last winter, will be expanded nationwide in December to enhance public safety.