One of Lebanon’s Coldest Winters Brings Freezing Temps

Local Editor

Residents of Lebanon Tuesday shivered in freezing temperatures, as chilly weather continued to engulf the country.

Snow blanketed the country's mountain areas, with black ice forming on the roads.

Authorities said that the vital Dahr al-Baidar highway in east Lebanon was open to all vehicles equipped with snow chains, except trucks.

The Traffic Management Center said that the Yammouneh and Deir al-Ahmar roads were completely blocked with snow as snow plows worked to reopen them.

Meanwhile, the Mount Lebanon area of Tarshish was only open to four-wheel-drive vehicles and those equipped with chains.

Mzaar Kfardebian Ski Center was also open to equipped vehicles, as authorities warned of the formation of ice on roads.

One individual was injured on the Batroun highway, north of Beirut, en route to the northern city of Tripoli, when his vehicle skidded on a patch of black ice.

Temperatures fell to -2 degrees Celsius in the northern district of Akkar, as ice formed on agricultural lands.

Temperatures will range from 2 to 13 Celsius along the coast, -3 to 4 in the mountains, -13 to -5 in the Cedars, and -4 to 5 in the Bekaa Valley.

Ice formation reached areas 500 meters above sea level.

Thursday is expected to be sunny with slight increase in temperatures. Along the coast temperatures will range between 3 to 16 Celsius, -2 to 8 in the mountains, -10 to 0 in the Cedars, and -4 to 9 in the Bekaa Valley.

Forecasters have warned average temperatures are not expected to rise until the end of the week.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team