Snow blankets Gwanghwamun Square and Mount Bugak in central Seoul, Wednesday, marking the capital's first snowfall of the season. This snowfall was the heaviest recorded for November since modern weather observations began in 1907. Yonhap

More than 20 centimeters of snow blanketed parts of Seoul, Wednesday, disrupting traffic and causing massive inconvenience to commuters.

The weather agency issued heavy snow advisories for the capital, surrounding Gyeonggi Province and almost all parts of the country. It also forecast more snow through Thursday. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, which initially issued a level one heavy snow alert in the three-tier system, raised it to level two later in the day as more snow was expected to fall.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Seongbuk and Gangbuk districts in northern Seoul received more than 20 centimeters of snow until Wednesday morning. Many others districts in the capital also saw more than 10 centimeters of snow.

At 3 p.m., 18 centimeters of snow fell at the Seoul Meteorological Observatory in Jongno District, the official weather observation point. This marked the heaviest November snowfall in Seoul since modern weather observations began in October 1907. The previous record was 12.4 centimeters recorded on Nov. 28, 1972.

After a significant amount of snowfall in the early morning hours, the weather agency issued a heavy snow alert for Seoul at 11:20 a.m. The alert is issued when at least 20 centimeters of snow is expected to fall within the next 24 hours.

The heavy snow caused accidents, road closures, and traffic disruptions across many parts of the country.

Rescue authorities received over 150 reports of traffic accidents, icy roads, and injuries from falls. In Seongbuk District, a tree fell onto a power cable, severing it and causing a power outage that affected nearly 200 households.

More than 40 domestic and international flights were canceled and nearly 200 were delayed, according to the Korea Airports Corp. and Incheon International Airport Corp.

Seoul's subway line 9 also experienced delays of up to nine minutes during the morning rush hour, causing overcrowding on platforms.

People cross a snow-covered street in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to operate more subways and buses during rush hour until Thursday morning to relieve road congestions.

Also, the city government implemented safety management measures at transportation facilities, including snow removal at subway station entrances and bus stops, to prevent slipping accidents.

Major Joseon-era palaces in central Seoul and royal tombs were closed later in the day for visitors' safety, along with the suspension of nighttime tours, according to the Korea Heritage Service.

The KMA forecast more snow in the central parts of the Korean Peninsula and mountainous regions in southwestern and southeastern provinces through Thursday. Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces, along with Jeju Island, are expected to experience rain later.

Subzero morning lows are expected in the central parts of the country through Sunday.

Vehicles move slowly on a road in southern Seoul's Seocho District, Wednesday, when heavy snow advisories were issued in the capital and almost all regions of the country. Some parts of Seoul saw more than 20 centimeters of snow, and more precipitation is forecast through Thursday. Yonhap