The newly opened suspension bridge near Uiam Lake in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, is temporarily closed as heavy snow blankets the region, Sunday. Yonhap

Temperatures will drop significantly across the country this week, following heavy snowfall, with Seoul expected to experience lows of minus 11 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the Korea Meteorological Administration said Sunday.

Heavy snowfall blanketed Seoul and Gangwon Province on Sunday, prompting authorities to escalate the weather alert level and prepare for potential disruptions.

On Monday, morning lows are predicted to range from minus 4 to 4 degrees Celsius, with daytime highs reaching 3 to 12 degrees Celsius, slightly above seasonal averages.

However, starting Wednesday afternoon, a sharp temperature drop is expected, with the cold wave intensifying on Thursday. Strong winds are anticipated to accompany the freezing temperatures, making the cold feel even more severe.

Forecasts say that Seoul will see its morning temperatures plunge to minus 11 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with even colder conditions expected in other regions. Paju in Gyeonggi Province is predicted to hit minus 15 degrees Celsius, Chuncheon in Gangwon Province minus 14 degrees Celsius and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province minus 12 degrees Celsius.

Many other areas across the nation are also expected to experience lows ranging between minus 11 and minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Daytime temperatures will remain below freezing in most regions. Highs in Seoul, Incheon, Suwon in Gyeonggi Province and Chuncheon in Gangwon Province are forecast to hover around minus 4 degrees Celsius.

The week began with heavy snowfall on Sunday, blanketing the greater Seoul area and Gangwon Province with up to 8 to 10 centimeters of snow.

In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the national crisis alert level from "attention" to "caution" and activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to Level 1.

The snow in Seoul and its surrounding areas is expected to subside by Monday, with clearer skies prevailing nationwide.

However, starting Tuesday, Chungcheong Province and the southwest region, as well as Jeju Island, will likely experience snow again, while dry conditions are expected to persist along the east coast.