Snowfalls on 200 Meters as Temperature Reaches Record Low

Snow fell on Friday on areas located 200 meters above the sea level as powerful storm Zina swept through Lebanon, blocking mountain roads and plummeting temperature with wind chills driving them even lower.

The temperature in the capital Beirut dipped as low as 2 degrees with wind chills.

Education Minister Elias Bou Saab ordered several schools in Beirut to close after they violated his decision to remain shut due to the storm.

All public, private and vocational schools as well as nurseries were ordered to remain closed on Friday for the third consecutive day at the request of the ministers of education and health.

Friday evening temperatures are expected to reach a new low with 3 degrees Celsius on the coast, minus five degrees on 1,000 meters above sea level and minus twelve degrees in the cedars, the lowest registered since seven years.

Snow covered the areas of the northern district of Akkar starting 200 meters above sea level and it began to accumulate from 400 meters. Thickness reached around 100 centimeters in towns that are located 1,000 meters above sea level.

The state-run National news agency said that the summit of Mount Terbol was also covered with snow for the first time.

The outskirts of Akkar were cut off as snow thickness reached 150 centimeters.

Temperatures dropped minus five degrees in areas located 1,100 above sea level.

Snow also covered areas 350 meters above sea level in the district of Zgharta and residents were trapped in their homes, reaching the northern region of Anfeh and Shekka.

The northern district of Dinniyeh remained cut off and snow thickness reached 15 centimeters as its towns suffered from a complete electricity blackout.

Farmers called on the concerned authority to open roads in Rashaya al-Wadi in the south where cattle in 13 farms could die from the ferocity of the storm.

Several roads were closed by the Internal Security Forces as others remained open for SUVs and cars equipped with snow chains.

Snow also fell in Iqlim al-Toffah and the towns of the southern province of Nabatieh.

Civil Defense teams and the Lebanese Red Cross are still working on aiding the people in several areas across the country.

Meanwhile, mountain roads remained closed by authorities as ice layers formed due to the low temperatures.

H.K.

G.K.