Snow is expected in the western coastal areas on Wednesday afternoon and also in the central region, Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces and on Jeju Island later in the day.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said snow will likely fall from around evening rush hour at 6 p.m. in metropolitan Seoul and warned of traffic congestion.

Expected to last through Friday, over 30 centimeters of snow will cover the western regions of Jeolla Province and well over 50 centimeters are forecast in mountainous areas of Jeju Island.

A cold wave warning will take effect in Seoul from 9 p.m. Wednesday as frigid temperatures will continue for the time being nationwide.

Morning low temperatures will dip even more on Thursday ranging from minus 20 to minus five degrees Celsius, including minus 14 in the capital city.

Afternoon highs will be seven to eight degrees lower than Wednesday and remain below zero, with minus ten forecast in Seoul.