[Weather] Thick Fog on the Morning of the First Holiday; Chuseok Full Moon Likely Hard to See

Light Rain Expected in Some Areas on September 25-26

On the morning of the first day of the Chuseok holiday, September 24, thick fog is expected in many parts of the country. On September 25, the day of Chuseok itself, rain is forecast to mostly fall in the central regions, accompanied by heavy cloud cover, making it unlikely for people to see the full moon.

Caution Advised for Fog in Inland and West Coast Regions

On the 23rd, one day before the Chuseok holiday, citizens heading to their hometowns are moving to board the trains at Seoul Station. 2026.9.23 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from late night until the morning of September 24, thick fog reducing visibility to less than 200 meters will cover the inland areas of Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, the Chungcheong region, and Honam. In Seoul, Incheon, the west coast of Gyeonggi, inland parts of North Gyeongsang Province, and the western inland of South Gyeongsang Province, fog is expected to reduce visibility to less than 1 kilometer.

The fog is expected to be particularly thick around rivers, lakes, and valleys. Bridges over the sea along the west coast, such as the Seohae Bridge and the Cheonsa Bridge, are also expected to experience dense fog; drivers are advised to reduce speed and practice 'safe driving' when crossing these areas.

Between late night on September 24 and the morning of September 25, the northern east coast and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province will see rainfall. This is due to easterly winds flowing in along the edge of a high-pressure system moving northeast from northeastern China toward the northern East Sea. In the late afternoon of September 25, rain is also expected to begin in central regions, North Jeolla Province, and North Gyeongsang Province.

Total precipitation through September 25 will generally be around 5 millimeters or less, except in the northern east coast and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, where 5 to 10 millimeters is expected. However, due to the pressure trough, thick clouds will cover all atmospheric layers, making it difficult to view the Chuseok full moon. The full moon is expected to rise at around 5:30 PM.

In the central regions, rain will continue until the early hours of September 26. On September 26, rain is also expected in southern regions and Jeju Island. While the rain will stop in the southern regions by that night, it will persist in Jeju until the morning of the following day.

Temperatures Expected To Be Similar To or Slightly Higher Than Average

On the 23rd, one day before the Chuseok holiday, homeward-bound vehicles were moving back and forth on the Gyeongbu Expressway near the Singal Junction in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, as seen from a National Police Agency helicopter. Photo by Yonhap News

During the holiday period, temperatures will remain similar to or slightly higher than seasonal averages, but under cloudy and rainy conditions, a slight cooling trend is expected starting around Chuseok.

On September 24, morning lows are forecast to range from 14 to 19 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs between 26 and 30 degrees. The expected minimum and maximum temperatures for major cities are as follows: Seoul, 19 and 28 degrees; Incheon, 19 and 27 degrees; Daejeon, 17 and 28 degrees; Gwangju, 19 and 30 degrees; Daegu, 18 and 30 degrees; Ulsan, 17 and 29 degrees; Busan, 19 and 29 degrees.

On September 25, morning lows will be 14 to 21 degrees, and highs 23 to 28 degrees. On September 26, temperatures will range from lows of 15 to 20 degrees to highs of 24 to 28 degrees, while on September 27, morning lows will be 14 to 19 degrees with highs of 24 to 29 degrees.

During the night of September 24 through September 25, swells will move into the east coast. High waves will hit the shore forcefully and may sometimes sweep over coastal rocks and breakwaters, so it is advisable to avoid going near the coast. Furthermore, on September 26, strong winds, thunder, and lightning are expected in the southern sea and around Jeju Island, so extra caution is advised for maritime navigation or fishing operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.