Cold wave sweeps Asia

Just a day after the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a cold wave warning for Seoul, temperature in the capital dropped to minus 18 degrees Celsius on Sunday -- the coldest since January 2001. Also on Sunday, the KMA issued a cold wave warning to all regions in Gyeonggi Province as well as Seoul, for the first time in six years.

The cold wave warning is issued if the temperature remains below minus 15 degrees for two or more days. -- The Korea Herald

VIETNAMMany northern provinces have been experiencing bitter cold, while snow has been falling heavily in many areas across the northern mountainous region due to a strong cold spell that has enveloped almost half of the country since Saturday (January 23).

Snow blanketed Sa Pa in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on Sunday and temperatures plunged to minus 5 degrees C on Saturday night, the lowest temperature in years. The temperature at Sa Pa was measured at 0 degrees C Sunday morning.

Local elderly people said this is the biggest snowfall they have seen in many years.

Freezing temperatures were also reported in other areas, such as minus 0.4 degrees C in Tam Dao(Phu Tho Province), minus 0.2 degrees C in Dong Van (Ha Giang Province) and minus 4 degrees C in Mau Son Mountain (Lang Son Province).

Sections of the national road 4D from O Quy Ho Pass (Sa Pa District) to Tam Duong District (Lai Chau Province) have been blanketed with snow and a centimetre of ice, posing danger to traffic.

Snow was also seen in higher-altitude areas, including Khau Pha Pass in Mu Cang Chai district, Suoi Giang Commune in Van Chan and Hat Luu and Tram Tau communes in Tram Tau District.

In Ha Noi, the highest temperature yesterday was forecast at 7 to 10 degrees C. Snow has also been seen in Ba Vi District, which is about 50km from Ha Noi.

The cold spell has expanded as far south as the central localities, bringing rain to most areas along the central coast. -- Viet Nam News

CHINAAs extreme cold weather continues to move southward across China, bringing the lowest temperatures recorded in decades, northeastern parts of the country have already experienced some localized warming, the National Meteorological Centre said on Sunday.

Temperatures rose by up to 10 degrees in some regions on Saturday, yet China's national observatory continued to renew its orange alert for the cold wave moving south.

In central and eastern China, the mercury is expected to dip by 6 to 8 Celsius between Sunday and Monday, while temperatures could hit-12 Celsius in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The cold wave, which brought with it sharp temperature drops of up to 16 Celsius across the country from Thursday evening, is expected to exit southern China beginning on Tuesday, allowing temperatures to climb back up to around the monthly average.

Over the weekend, many parts of China were hit by heavy snowstorms and some regions experienced record low temperatures.

According to the local meteorological centre, Beijing shivered through lows of-16 C on Saturday morning - close to the lowest recorded temperature in 30 years - before warming a little on Sunday afternoon.

In Shanghai, the lowest temperature in 35 years was recorded on Sunday morning with a low of-7.2 Celsius, not experienced in the city since 1981.

HONG KONGOvernight temperatures near the Peak touched five below zero as about 70 people were sent to hospital for cold-weather related ailments or ice-related injuries, with three of recieving critical care.

More than 200 Fire Services Department rescuers assisted by police were deployed to the scene after a number of frost-chasers and participants in a previously-scheduled run were stranded at the peak.

Urban temperatures are expected to rebound to a high of 9 degrees Celsius today, with the cold weather warning expected to remain in place for much of the coming week.

Relatively extreme weather for Hong Kong spurred an interest in revelers to experience near zero degree temperatures in Tai Mo Shan, clogging narrow access roads which prevented emergency vehicles from reaching their targets.

Kindergartens, primary and special schools remained closed Monday as announced the day before owing to the very cold weather, leaving many parents scrambling for last minute arrangements. It also prompted calls for more lead time when the Education Bureau chooses to announce closures if the mercury is forecast to dip below 5 degrees Celsius.

Some middle and secondary schools volunteered to join the suspension, citing low temperatures. Some students who managed to turn up complained of unequal treatment with heating in schools inadequate. -- China Daily

THAILANDIn Bangkok and nearby areas, the mercury could fall to between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius today after temperatures plunged Sunday.

In the northern and northeastern regions, minimum temperature may plunge to as low as eight degrees Celsius.

In Phetchabun province, the temperature at the Phu Tab Berk attraction dropped to 10 degrees to the delight of tourists. Locals who lacked warm clothes, however, may be at risk health wise.

Preecha Jinthanawat, who works at a northern weather bureau, said hot temperatures often preceded thunderstorms.

"Following thunderstorms, temperature will get lower," he said.

He said the northern region would experience cool weather until early March due to a westerly trough from Myanmar

A Northeast monsoon across the south and the Gulf of Thailand is expected to intensify with much more rain, as well as isolated heavy thundershowers.

Wind waves in the Gulf are expected to be up to four metres high. People have been warned to be on the lookout for high inshore surf.

All large ships have been told to proceed with caution, and small boats should not be taken out from now until Wednesday, officials said. -- The Nation

PHILIPPINESMetro Manila will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rain on Monday, the state weather bureau said.

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach is set to do a grand homecoming parade in the cities of Manila and Makati on the same day.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains will be experienced over Bicol Region, Calabarzon and the Provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Cloudy skies with light rain are expected over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the Province of Aurora as the northeast monsoon affects Northern Luzon.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, Pagasa said.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas. -- Philippine Daily Inquirer

TAIWANTaiwan residents, meanwhile, experienced snow, which is rarely seen on the island.

Many places around Taiwan — even those located at an altitude of only 400 to 500 metres — received a covering of snow or soft hail overnight.