With the Yeongnam Alps and the East Sea both nearby, Ulsan has one of Korea's mildest winters after Busan, alongside distinctive air-quality swings driven by its national industrial complexes. Here's a breakdown of Ulsan's weather, historical records, and seasonal tips.
Ulsan is ringed to the northwest by the Yeongnam Alps, including Gajisan, and faces the East Sea broadly to the east. The mountains block some cold continental air while the sea adds a warming effect, giving Ulsan one of the milder winters within the Gyeongsang region.
Dense national industrial complexes for petrochemicals, automobiles, and shipbuilding mean Ulsan's own emissions have a big impact. Air quality near the complexes can vary sharply from other areas depending on wind direction and strength.
The Taehwagang River, developed as a national garden, runs through downtown, and the warming effect of the river and sea together makes daily temperature swings somewhat gentler here than in other inland cities.
The Yeongnam Alps block some cold air from the northwest, and the East Sea's presence adds warmth, giving Ulsan a winter milder than most Gyeongsang cities except the south coast. Its first-ice date also tends to come later than inland areas.
Spring can see wide air-quality swings from yellow dust and fine dust combined with the industrial complexes' own emissions. Summer brings intense heat, especially inland, and in late summer and early autumn, Ulsan is often in the path of typhoons moving along the south coast. Winter is mild within the Gyeongsang region. For general season-by-season tips, see the seasonal outdoor guide.
Based on official KMA observations at the Ulsan Weather Station.
| Record | Value | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Record high | 38.8°C | 2013-08-08 |
| Snowfall during the 2005 southeastern snowstorm | 18.4cm | 2005-03-05 |
If you live or work near the industrial complexes, check fine-dust and ozone advisories more often than usual. When a typhoon is forecast in late summer or early autumn, avoid low-lying coastal areas in districts like Nam-gu and Dong-gu. For general threshold-by-threshold guidance on UV, feels-like temperature, and fine dust, see what to do.
Because conditions feel different near the industrial complexes, along the Taehwagang riverside, and in Ulju County's mountain areas, searching for and adding a specific neighborhood in sanCheck gives you a more accurate weather and outdoor-activity score. Save the places you check often — home, work — and tap between chips to compare.