A cold wave continues to grip the nation for the fourth straight day, with temperatures again dipping below zero in the central and southern inland regions Tuesday morning.

The first snow, the earliest reported in some 30 years, fell in the port city of Busan.

Morning lows came to minus five-point-seven degrees Celsius at the Daegwallyeong mountain pass, minus four-point-two in Cheorwon, minus two-point-seven in capital Seoul and minus one in the North Jeolla Province highlands and the inland regions of North Gyeongsang.

Wind chill temperatures will hit zero degrees in the central region on Tuesday afternoon, with even lower temps expected to come Wednesday morning.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts minus nine degrees in Daegwallyeong and minus five in Seoul and Daejon early Wednesday.

The cold spell is expected to let up Thursday afternoon.