The annual yellow dust reportedly blown in from China’s Gobi Desert has blanketed the skies over Seoul again, adding to public concerns over health across the Korean Peninsula from polluted air.

South Korea saw clear skies in most regions of the country with the exception of Seoul, island regions of the West Coast and parts of Gangwon Province being shrouded in yellow dust as of 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. 

The density of fine dust particles in the air in certain regions hit “bad” levels, ranging from 81 to 150 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the weather agency.

The nation’s weather authorities said on Thursday “yellow dust particles from China’s deserts have moved across the Yellow Sea, blowing into parts of the capital city, Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces starting from last night.”

Seoul experienced alarmingly high levels of air pollutants due to yellow dust on April 15. It is the third time this year the nation saw soaring levels of fine dust, the KMA said.

According to the KMA, the yellow dust storm is expected to linger across the country, particularly in the southern regions, until Friday.

By Catherine Chung (cec82@heraldcorp.com)