21.02.2025 16:50
The snowfall, which has been intermittently observed throughout the day in Istanbul, continues to increase its impact in some districts. According to meteorology experts, one of the coldest nights will be experienced on Saturday. Meanwhile, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's City Lines has suspended all ferry services due to adverse weather conditions until further notice.
The cold wave that entered Istanbul the day before yesterday continues to have an impact with heavy snowfall. While the sudden snowfall in some areas in the morning turned the city white, it intensified on the Asian side. In the latest warnings from the Meteorology and AKOM, it is expected that the snowfall will increase even more today. A yellow alert has been issued for the megacity for today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) announced that due to adverse weather conditions, some highways and state roads in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, and Ankara have been closed to heavy vehicle traffic for two days.
SNOWFALL HAS STRENGTHENED AGAIN Intermittent snowfall throughout the day in Istanbul continues to increase its impact in some districts. The intensifying snowfall is particularly effective in the Ümraniye and Beykoz districts of the Asian side.
In the European side, the snowfall is showing its effect in the form of short-term blizzards in the Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Zeytinburnu, and Fatih districts. In Silivri, however, snow is lightly falling intermittently. With the effect of sunny weather seen intermittently during the day, the snow cover that melted in some areas has reformed with the resumption of precipitation. There is no traffic congestion due to schools being closed and people opting for public transportation instead of their own vehicles, but there is congestion observed in public transport in some areas.
According to the data from the İBB Traffic map, the overall traffic density in the city was recorded at 38% as of 16:15.
IBB: SNOWFALL WILL INTENSIFY The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) announced that the snowfall in the city is expected to intensify with winds of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour from the afternoon and continue intermittently until Monday.
IMAMOGLU: IT WILL BE THE COLDEST NIGHT Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor İmamoğlu stated that the snowfall will increasingly affect the city in the afternoon. İmamoğlu noted that the blizzard will hit in the afternoon and intensify throughout the night.
Stating that temperatures will drop further tonight, İmamoğlu also added that Saturday night is expected to be very cold.
YELLOW AND ORANGE CODE ALARM FROM METEOROLOGY According to the latest weather forecast report from the General Directorate of Meteorology, yellow and orange code warnings have been issued for some provinces.
The provinces under orange code alarm for today and tomorrow are Kastamonu, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Sinop, Zonguldak, Bartın, and Düzce, while yellow code alarms have been issued for Balıkesir, Bolu, Bursa, Istanbul, Samsun, Yalova, and Karabük.
ACCESS TO THESE ROADS IS PROHIBITED FOR 2 DAYS In a statement made on KGM's social media account, it was stated, "According to the forecasts made by the General Directorate of Meteorology; starting from the afternoon of February 21, Friday, an orange (dangerous) meteorological warning has been issued for our provinces of Kocaeli, Sakarya, and Düzce; and a yellow (less dangerous) warning has been issued for our provinces of Istanbul, Bolu, and Karabük. Due to the weather conditions expected to continue until the afternoon of Sunday, critical traffic flow on road sections is not to be disrupted, and from 13:00 on February 21 (today) until 13:00 on February 23, heavy vehicles (except for vehicles that should not be disrupted in the supply process) will not be allowed to use the D-100 and D-750 State Roads and the TEM and Northern Marmara highways covering Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce, Bolu, and Ankara. During this period, it is important for drivers to comply with traffic signs and signals and to prefer alternative routes," it was stated.
CITY LINES CANCELLED City Lines announced that all services have been suspended due to unfavorable weather conditions.
In a statement on City Lines' website, it was stated, "Dear passengers. All our services have been suspended until further notice due to unfavorable weather conditions (heavy blizzard)."