The harsh winter has officially arrived! City centers are covered in white, and there is no access to dozens of villages.

27.12.2025 13:10

The severe cold known as "Kara Kış" is affecting the entire country. Many city centers are covered in snow, and dozens of village roads have been closed. In Uludağ, the snow depth has reached 12 centimeters, and in some areas of Istanbul, the rain has turned into a mix of rain and snow. Here are some snowy scenes from across Turkey...

After the General Directorate of Meteorology issued a warning for strong and at times heavy snowfall, many provinces across the country were covered in white.

In Sinop, snowfall was effective in some areas of the city. In the Erfelek and central districts, 34 village roads were closed to traffic, and the higher parts of the Türkeli district were covered in snow.

SNOW DEPTH REACHES 20 CENTIMETERS AT BOLU MOUNTAIN PASS

Snowfall that began during the night at the Bolu Mountain pass, an important transit route between Ankara and Istanbul, was intermittently effective. The snow depth reached approximately 20 centimeters. Road crews conducted snow plowing and salting operations on the Anadolu Highway and D-100 highway crossings. There were no disruptions in traffic on either route. Police and gendarmerie teams are also continuing their checks along the road routes. Snowfall is expected to continue intermittently throughout the day.

As a result of the effective snowfall in the high areas of Elazığ, 23 village roads were closed to traffic. The Provincial Special Administration teams are working intensively to open the closed roads.

STORM AND BLIZZARD EFFECTIVE IN ARDAHAN

Snowfall that began at night in Ardahan was effective until the morning hours. Transportation was adversely affected due to the storm and blizzard in the high areas. Heavy vehicles had difficulty progressing at the Meryem Pass, which is at an altitude of 2,016 meters on the Ardahan-Çıldır highway. Visibility in the region also significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the villages in the area were covered in white due to the snow and blizzard.

45 VILLAGE ROADS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC IN SİİRT

In Siirt, due to snowfall, 45 village roads in the districts of Pervari, Şirvan, and Eruh, as well as the central area, were closed to traffic. The Provincial Special Administration snow fighting teams began work with construction machinery to reopen the closed village roads. While some of the opened roads were reported to have closed again, officials warned citizens not to go out in traffic unless absolutely necessary.

MINERS TRAPPED

Meanwhile, it was learned that a service minibus carrying miners to the Şirvan district was stranded on the road, but the road was opened with the efforts of the teams, and then the minibus and other vehicles were able to proceed again.

SNOW DEPTH REACHES 12 CENTIMETERS IN ULUDAG

In Uludağ, referred to as the 'white paradise' by holidaymakers, the snow depth was measured at 6 centimeters yesterday, while snowfall was effective throughout the night. After the precipitation, the snow depth in the region reached 12 centimeters. The summit of Uludağ was also covered in snow, and blizzards were intermittently effective in the region.

According to information from the meteorology, while the air temperature in the city center was 4 degrees, it is expected that mixed rain and snow will continue in Uludağ today and tomorrow, and that intermittent snowfall will be effective on the summit throughout Monday.

AYDER PLATEAU TURNED WHITE

In the high areas of Rize, snowfall was effective around 21:00 yesterday. With the continuous precipitation throughout the night, Anzer Plateau in İkizdere district and Ayder Plateau in Çamlıhemşin district turned white. After the snowfall, green areas were covered with a white blanket, creating picturesque views.

In the high areas of Çankırı, snowfall was effective. After the snowfall in the Kurşunlu district, the district turned white.

KARS DISTRICT CENTER IS SNOW WHITE

In the Sarıkamış district of Kars, snowfall and blizzard were effective. The intermittently effective snow covered the district center in white. Citizens cleared the snow that accumulated in front of their homes and businesses, as well as on their vehicles.

MIXED RAIN AND SNOW IN ISTANBUL

The precipitation that was effective throughout Istanbul has given way to mixed rain and snowfall in the high areas and some regions of the city.

Due to the snowfall showing its effect in Pendik, a thin white cover has covered the cars. In Sancaktepe, Çekmeköy, Ümraniye, Beyoğlu, and Şişli, intermittent rain mixed with snow is also being observed.

Source: AA, DHA