According to the Hydro-meteorological Service, the temperature below minus 15 degrees Celsius lasted for 18 days in Pyongyang, Phyongsong and Sariwon areas.

On January 3, Sinuiju area registered minus 21.3 degrees Celsius, Phyongsong area minus 21.9 degrees Celsius and Sariwon area minus 19 degrees Celsius, all-time low.

On Jan. 4, Pyongyang witnessed minus 21.6 degrees Celsius and Phyongsong minus 22 degrees Celsius, the lowest temperature since the beginning of the current winter season.

On the day, the highest temperature in the west coastal area stood at between minus 12 degrees Celsius and minus 9 degrees Celsius, in the northern inland area between minus 19 degrees Celsius and minus 15 degrees Celsius and in the east coastal area between minus 10 degrees Celsius and minus 3 degrees Celsius, 6 to 12 degrees Celsius lower than the average year throughout the country.

Meanwhile, heavy snowfalls hit most areas of the country from early December last year to January 7 this year.

36 cm snowfall was observed in Pyongyang, 128 cm in Chongjin and 83 cm in Kimchaek and 77 cm in Kwail County, 69 cm in Yangdok County, 68 cm in Jangyon County and 51 cm in Pukchong County.

The precipitation throughout the country in December last year was 5 mm higher than the average year and 15.7 mm higher than the previous year.

On Dec. 5 last year, 230 mm snowfall was recorded in Pyongyang, the highest ever in 50 years.

The cold spell was due to heavy snowfall, seen once in three days on average in most parts of the country, and the frozen atmosphere triggered by the cold air coming from the North Pole and Siberian area, affected by the cold continental high pressure.

It is likely that the cold continental high pressure will weaken gradually and the warm air in the south will come to the Korean Peninsula, mingled with the verge of high pressure gaining force in the southern area.

It is forecast that temperature will slightly go up in coming days.