Korea to see warm, wet winter due to powerful El Nino

Korea anticipates a milder and more rainy winter this year due to the impact of El Nino, the national meteorological agency reported on Friday. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced that an El Nino, a natural occurrence of Pacific Ocean water warming, began forming in May and is expected to reach its peak in December.

This particular event is predicted to be the strongest on record, bringing warm, moist air to Korea during the winter months, according to the KMA, which referenced soaring sea surface temperatures in the El Nino monitoring zone. The August to October average sea surface temperature was 2.4 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, the highest on record since measurements began in 1950, the KMA stated.

Consequently, influenced by El Nino, Korea's average temperatures in November, December, and January are expected to surpass long-term averages, with increased precipitation during the first two months of winter, the agency added. KMA head Lee Mi-seon said in a statement that the public should remain prepared for potential weather fluctuations.