Snowfall blankets Mount Sorak, Gangwon Province, Oct. 20. Courtesy of Korea National Park Service

Winter's first snow is expected to blanket much of Korea, including Seoul, on Wednesday, as Tuesday evening's rain is forecast to transition into snow.

Temperatures are expected to drop sharply from Tuesday evening, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) the same day. As cold air descends in the afternoon, rain could turn into snow, potentially bringing the season's first snow to the peninsula's interior.

Starting Wednesday, snow is expected to primarily affect central regions, with strengthening winds contributing to an extended cold snap.

Over the next two days, snowfall accumulations are expected to vary across the country.

Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province are forecast to receive 3 to 8 centimeters of snow, with over 10 centimeters likely in eastern Gyeonggi. Inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province are expected to see 5 to 15 centimeters of snow, with some locations accumulating as much as 20 centimeters.

In Daejeon, Sejong and South Chungcheong Province, snowfall is predicted to range from 1 to 5 centimeters, while North Chungcheong Province could see 5 to 10 centimeters. North Jeolla Province will likely experience 3 to 10 centimeters of snow, with certain areas receiving over 15 centimeters. In contrast, inland areas of South Jeolla Province are forecast to get up to 5 centimeters.

The eastern region of North Gyeongsang Province is expected to see 5 to 10 centimeters of snow, while inland areas of South Gyeongsang Province may receive between 2 and 7 centimeters.

A snowman is made in front of a building in Seoul, Dec. 19, 2021. Yonhap

Heavy snowfall is anticipated in areas such as eastern Gyeonggi Province, inland and mountainous regions of Gangwon Province and eastern North Jeolla Province.

Precipitation is expected to mostly stop on Thursday, but snow may persist in Gangwon's central and southern inland and mountainous areas, as well as in inland regions of North Gyeongsang Province.

Cold air accompanied by strong winds is expected to sweep across the Korean Peninsula, resulting in chilly conditions throughout this week.

Temperatures are forecast to range from lows of minus 6 to minus 4 degrees Celsius to highs of 2 to 11 degrees. Thursday is expected to be slightly colder, with lows between minus 6 and minus 5 degrees and highs ranging from 2 to 13 degrees.