A powerful low-pressure system accompanied by an arctic cold wave has swept across Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean, triggering widespread road closures and a sharp drop in temperatures. On Friday, Lebanese authorities reported that several vital mountain passes have been cut off due to heavy snow accumulation, leaving some areas isolated.
Widespread Road Closures
According to the Traffic Management Center (TMC), snow has blocked several strategic mountain routes, including:
Ainata – Cedars
Kfardebian – Hadath Baalbek
Aqoura – Hadath Baalbek
Hermel – Sir El-Danniyeh
Maaser El-Shouf – Kefraya
Tannourine El-Faouqa – Hadath El-Jebbeh
Civil defense units and municipal snowplows are working around the clock to clear the arteries, though continuous snowfall is making progress difficult.
Atmospheric Instability to Persist
The Lebanese Meteorological Department warned that the atmospheric instability is expected to continue through the weekend and into early next week. The current system, centered southwest of Turkey, is bringing torrential rain to coastal areas and thunderstorms across the interior. Snow is currently falling at altitudes as low as 1,600 meters, with some northern peaks seeing significantly lower snowlines.
Flooding and Traffic Chaos
In addition to the mountain snow, heavy coastal rains have caused significant urban flooding. Deep pools of water on highways and coastal roads have stalled vehicles and created massive traffic congestion along the maritime front and major arterial routes. Winds have reached speeds of up to 90 km/h in the north, further complicating travel and maritime activity.
Authorities are urging citizens to avoid travel on mountain roads unless absolutely necessary and to equip vehicles with snow chains where travel is essential.
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