A cold spell gripped the nation a day before Christmas on Friday, the December temperature falling to the lowest level in three decades.

As of Friday morning, the mercury dropped to minus 14.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, falling by more than 10 degrees from the previous day, the weather agency here said.

The temperature will remain below zero the whole day and through Christmas in most regions, with snow expected near the country’s west coast, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. 

The weather agency issued a cold wave watch in Seoul and most parts of the nation and said icy weather is expected to last for two or three days.

Temperature is expected to be minus 14 degrees Celsius in Seoul on Christmas day, while Daegwallyeong, a mountain path in South Korea’s northeastern region just kilometers south of the inter-Korean border, will see the mercury slipping to minus 17 degrees Celsius, according to the KMA.

The KMA also advised people to be cautious about fire, as the air is dry. The cold spell will be fading out next week with the mercury expected to go up to the annual average level around Tuesday, it said.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldcorp.com)