Chilly autumn weather gripped South Korea on Friday morning, with frost and ice signaling the early arrival of winter in the country's northeast.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, temperatures fell below 10 degrees Celsius across most regions, with Seoul recording a low of 6.6 C. The mercury dipped below 5 C in parts of northern Gyeonggi Province and inland Gangwon Province.
In Inje County, part of Gangwon Province, a thin layer of frost covered cabbage and chili pepper fields, as well as trees and grass.
The morning chill is expected to ease as temperatures rise throughout the day, with afternoon highs ranging from 18 to 23 C, officials said.
The state weather agency advised people to take precautions against sharp temperature swings, with a gap of around 15 C expected between daytime and nighttime temperatures.
Typhoon Champi, moving north from the western Pacific, is expected to pass Taiwan before heading toward Japan's Kyushu region.
Although the storm is not expected to directly hit the Korean Peninsula, its indirect effects are forecast to bring rain to Jeju Island later in the afternoon, spreading to the southern regions on Saturday and the Chungcheong provinces on Sunday.
Jeju is expected to receive 50 to 150 millimeters of rain, with higher amounts possible in some areas, while Gwangju, South Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province could see 20 to 60 mm.
cjh@heraldcorp.com