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

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) anticipates a warmer and wetter winter for South Korea this year, attributed to the impacts of El Nino, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon. According to the agency, the El Nino has been developing since May and is expected to peak in December, potentially setting a record for strength.

The latest forecast highlights record-breaking sea surface temperatures in the monitoring zone for the El Nino event, with the moving average for August to October recording a staggering 2.4 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, marking the highest since data collection began in 1950, as reported by the KMA. Consequently, South Korea's average temperatures during November, December, and January are expected to surpass long-term averages, accompanied by increased rainfall, particularly in the first two months of winter, according to the KMA.

Despite these projections, the agency's head, Lee Mi-seon, cautioned the public to remain vigilant for potential cold spells, as other climate factors also influence winter weather patterns.