BEIRUT: Snow continued to fall on mountainous areas across Lebanon Friday, blocking roads, closing schools and leaving thousands stranded in their homes.
Dozens of villages in the eastern, northern and southern parts of the country were cut off by the blizzard.
Schools across Lebanon abided by Education Minister Elias Bou Saab’s decision to shut down Friday and Saturday due to the storm.
Snow fell at elevations as low as 300 meters, an official at the meteorological department at the Beirut airport told The Daily Star.
Water levels rose in rivers as heavy rains, mainly in the north and Mount Lebanon, which resulted in massive flooding causing several roads to collapse.
Public Works Minister Ghazi Zeaiter had called on snowplow centers and parties responsible for drainage networks to be prepared in case of emergencies.
The Lebanese Red Cross said it has increased its emergency response units during the storm to 400 paramedics and 200 ambulances, including 60 4-wheel drive vehicles.
The meteorological department said Storm Windy, which blew over from the Arctic, will start fading away by Friday evening, but it will continue over south Lebanon until midday Saturday.
Extreme cold weather and rain will continue Friday, according to the weather forecast.
Weather experts have warned of a substantial risk of icy conditions.
Saturday’s weather is partly cloudy with scattered rain. Intermittent snow showers are also expected in the morning, particularly in south Lebanon.
“We will have nice weather Sunday,” a source at the meteorological department said.
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