The government will expand nationwide the forecast for heavy, wet snow (wet snow) and pilot the issuance of heavy snowfall emergency text alerts to reduce damage from facility collapses caused by winter heavy snowfall·cold waves.

The government announced on the 13th that it has prepared the ‘2025~2026 Winter Season Natural Disaster (Heavy Snowfall·Cold Waves) Comprehensive Plan and will implement it from the 15th until March 15 next year.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, temperatures and precipitation this winter will be similar to or generally lower than normal, but due to high sea surface temperatures around the Korean Peninsula and airsea temperature differences, some regions may at times see much snow, and temperature variability is expected to be high.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety previously provided 15 billion KRW in special disaster grants on the 29th of last month to 17 metropolitan and provincial governments for the purchase of de-icing agents and snow removal equipment and for cold-wave preparedness. In addition, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments nationwide have already secured 1.16 million t of de-icing agents and will secure an additional 290,000 t by February next year, bringing reserves to about 1.45 million t, which is 116% of the amount used last year.

From this winter, the government will expand to a nationwide scope the wet-snow forecast that provides three levels of snowfall information: heavy and wet snow, ordinary snow, and light snow. Wet snow, which is moist and packs easily, is 2∼3 times heavier than dry snow. Therefore, when much wet snow falls, the risk of facilities toppling or collapsing increases. The wet-snow forecast is currently in operation in Gangwon·Chungcheong·Jeolla·North Gyeongsang.

The government will also shorten the provision interval for snow depth data in the Disaster Prevention Meteorological Information System from hourly by station to every 10 minutes to strengthen the disaster response capabilities of related agencies.

A pilot program to send heavy snowfall emergency text messages, similar to emergency alerts for heavy rain, will also be operated. These safety guidance messages will be sent at the city/county/district level, taking into account snowfall intensity and snow accumulation, and will be piloted in the Seoul metropolitan area·South Chungcheong·North Jeolla.

To prevent congestion and isolation caused by inadequate snow removal, the all-hours response system for road black ice will be activated, and on vulnerable sections de-icing agents will be pre-applied 1~3 hours before a snowfall forecast and re-applied according to weather·road conditions.

Areas and facilities vulnerable to winter heavy snowfall·cold waves will be designated as priority management targets, with priority controls and resident evacuations carried out during hazardous weather. The government recently designated 8,761 sites at risk of winter disasters, including traditional markets, plastic greenhouses, and livestock sheds, and completed advance inspections.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that “In cases where heavy snowfall is expected to cause traffic congestion and vehicle isolation, traffic will be controlled first, and the principle of resuming passage after snow removal work is completed will be applied.”