Gangwon Heavy Snowfall Could Disrupt Transport and U.S. Electronics Supply Chains

Seoul is starting the day at about 1°C, with a chilly morning and a pronounced day-to-night temperature swing as the season transitions.

The forecast indicates a clear split in conditions: western regions, including the capital, are expected to stay mostly dry and cooler, while eastern areas will see precipitation, with the mountains in Gangwon Province bearing the heavier snowfall.

Gangwon’s highlands are under a heavy-snow advisory, with up to 20 cm of snow forecast. Ulleungdo and Dokdo could receive 3 to 8 cm, and the northeastern mountains of North Gyeongsang Province are expected to pick up 1 to 5 cm.

From afternoon into the night, snowfall is forecast to intensify to 1 to 3 cm per hour, bringing heavy, wet snow that could cause damage to facilities and raise safety concerns for travelers and workers.

Temperature readings this morning include Seoul at 1°C, Daejeon at 0°C, and Daegu at about 1.5°C; daytime highs are projected around 13°C in Seoul and Daejeon and about 14°C in Gwangju, with the west more likely to warm under easterly winds.

The East Coast is expected to remain unsettled with rain or snow through tomorrow afternoon. Overall, a pronounced diurnal swing is expected to continue, delivering spring-like days but with fluctuating conditions.

Air quality will be a concern: western regions are forecast to have poor ultra-fine dust levels for most of the day, while eastern regions are expected to have poor conditions until mid-morning.

For U.S. readers, the weather matters because Korea is a major hub for global electronics manufacturing, including semiconductors and components used in many American tech products. Snow and icy conditions in Gangwon can disrupt road and rail links into Seoul and the northeast, potentially delaying shipments and affecting production schedules in supply chains that serve U.S. companies. Snowfall on outlying islands like Ulleungdo and Dokdo also influences maritime traffic in nearby waters, with broader implications for regional trade. Air-quality episodes add another layer of public-health considerations shared across the region.

Authorities urge residents and travelers to monitor updates, plan for travel delays, and heed any weather advisories as conditions change through the day.