The expected snowstorm in Istanbul has begun.

21.02.2025 07:40

The expected snowstorm has begun in Istanbul, which is under the influence of a cold air wave originating from Siberia. Since the night hours, many areas of the megacity have been covered in snow, and it is anticipated that the precipitation will intensify today and continue heavily throughout the weekend. In addition to Istanbul, where snow depth is expected to exceed 40 cm, schools have been closed in many provinces.

The snowfall that started yesterday in Istanbul continued to increase its effect during the night hours. Teams carried out salting and snow plowing works on the TEM highway and D-100 highway throughout the night.

YELLOW CODE WARNING FROM METEOROLOGY

After consecutive warnings from the General Directorate of Meteorology and AKOM, the intermittent snowfall that began in the early hours of the previous day in Istanbul intensified in the evening. In the daily report published by the Meteorology, a yellow code snowfall warning was issued for all districts of Istanbul. In a statement from the General Directorate of Meteorology, it was noted that the snowfall expected to be seen across the province would continue strongly and at times intensely until Sunday afternoon, and that icing and frost events would be effective throughout the province until Monday morning.

Istanbul under snow! A yellow code warning was issued for all districts

While a snow thickness of 5 to 15 cm is expected in central districts, a snow cover of 40 cm and above will form in northern regions and high-altitude areas.

AIR TRAFFIC DISRUPTED

The snowfall also negatively affected air transportation. 10% of the flights planned from Istanbul Airport yesterday were canceled. Additionally, at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, a decision was made to cancel 15% of flights, in addition to the previously announced 10% flight cancellations.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated, "Based on our evaluations at both Sabiha Gökçen and Istanbul Airport, and considering the Meteorology reports, it is possible that we will postpone up to 40% of flight operations on Saturday and Friday."

IBB PRESIDENT IMAMOGLU: DO NOT DRIVE WITH YOUR VEHICLES

In a statement made in the evening hours, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu urged citizens to be more cautious today due to the heavy snowfall affecting Istanbul, especially on Friday and the weekend, advising them not to drive with their own vehicles and to take advantage of public transportation options, and stated that necessary preparations had been made by the IBB, as indicated by the Disaster Affairs Directorate AKOM.

GOVERNOR GUL: RAIN WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MONDAY EVENING

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül stated in a press conference at the AFAD Istanbul Provincial Directorate regarding the snow fighting efforts that the city has been under the influence of snowfall since yesterday and that the precipitation is expected to be effective intermittently until the evening hours of February 24, Monday.

MOTORCYCLES ARE BANNED FROM TRAFFIC

Governor Gül stated that they are conducting a coordinated effort with all institutions to prevent the negative impacts of snowfall in Istanbul, and expressed that 10,147 vehicles and 35,731 personnel are involved in snow fighting efforts. He mentioned that a total of 21,194 tons of salt, 504 tons of solution, and 43 tons of urea have been used in the continuous efforts since the first moment the snowfall began to show its effects.

Gül continued his remarks as follows: "As of 24:00 tonight, the entry of all types of motorcycles and couriers into traffic is prohibited until further notice." He stated that the teams of relevant institutions continue to work on a 24-hour basis due to the adverse weather conditions affecting the city and urged citizens to be careful and cautious against disruptions in transportation due to icing and frost events.

SNOW WILL COME WITH A STORM

NTV Meteorology Editor Dilek Çalışkan stated that snowfall will be more frequent in the megacity today. She also mentioned that a storm will occur with the snowfall today, saying, "In Maslak, Sarıyer, Arnavutköy, and Şişli, the snowfall will be effective in the form of blizzard."

Çalışkan warned that the snowfall will continue intensely on Saturday as well. She stated that the snowfall will weaken on Sunday, saying, "The snowfall will be more effective on the Anatolian Side and the Bosphorus line on Sunday."

SNOW DEPTH MAY REACH 40 CM

It is anticipated that the intensity of snowfall will increase today and continue intensely throughout the weekend.

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According to AKOM's forecasts, the snow depth will vary by region:

South of E-5 (central districts) 5-15 cm
Between E-5 and TEM 10-30 cm
North of TEM and in high areas 20-40 cm
In northern regions and high-altitude areas, snow cover will exceed 40 cm.

Istanbul under snow! All districts are under yellow code warning

HERE ARE THE CITIES WHERE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED

In addition to Istanbul, schools have been closed today in many cities. The cities where the snow holiday will continue are as follows: "Van, Sinop, Samsun, Malatya, Ağrı, Giresun, Iğdır, Ordu, Muş, Bursa, Yalova, Artvin, Elazığ, Bingöl, Bitlis, Bolu, Kars, Ardahan, Rize, Düzce."

In Hakkari, due to adverse weather conditions, all schools in the central, Yüksekova, and Çukurca districts, as well as schools under the transportation scheme in Şemdinli district, have suspended education.
In Şırnak, education has been suspended in all educational institutions in the city center and in the Uludere and Beytüşşebap districts due to snow.
Education has been suspended in the city center of Yozgat and in the Çayıralan and Akdağmadeni districts.
In Erzincan's Çayırlı and Tercan districts, education has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
In Bartın, transportation education has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
The heavy snowfall affecting Kastamonu continues to negatively impact daily life. It has been reported that face-to-face education was suspended for 1 day in Abana, Bozkurt, and İnebolu districts on Friday, February 21, due to adverse weather conditions, while transportation education was suspended in the central district. It was also announced that all levels of schools in Çatalzeytin, Ağlı, Şenpazar, Doğanyurt, and Küre districts were closed for 1 day.
In Kırıkkale's Delice district, transportation education has been suspended.
In Afyonkarahisar's Emirdağ district, education has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
In Siirt's Pervari, Eruh, Baykan, and Şirvan districts, all schools have suspended education, while in Siirt center and Kurtalan and Tillo districts, education has been suspended for students coming from villages to central schools under the transportation scheme.
In Tokat's Başçiftlik and Reşadiye districts, education has been suspended due to snow.
In Çanakkale's Yenice district, transportation education has been suspended for one day due to adverse weather conditions.
In Tunceli, due to ongoing heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions, education has been suspended for 1 day in all schools in the Pülümür district, while education has been suspended for 1 day in the center and in Nazımiye, Ovacık, Pertek, Hozat, Çemişgezek, and Mazgirt districts.
In Bayburt, due to heavy snowfall, the one-day snow holiday given today has been extended, and schools have been closed.

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