Istanbul wakes to snowfall amid nationwide weather alerts

ISTANBUL

Following days of warnings from the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM) and Istanbul's Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM), the anticipated snowfall returned to Istanbul early Monday morning, blanketing parts of the city as of Jan. 12.

The precipitation began around 6 a.m., hitting higher elevations hardest, with Çamlıca Hill quickly covered in a layer of white.Authorities had forecasted the resurgence at the start of the week, and the snow has been most visible in elevated areas across the metropolis.

Forecasters expect intermittent snowfall to persist through the day in the higher regions of districts like Başakşehir, Büyükçekmece, Arnavutköy, Sarıyer, Beykoz and Üsküdar.

In response to the adverse conditions, the Istanbul Governor's Office announced a one-day closure of all schools on Monday, based on meteorological data predicting potential disruptions.

Nationwide, the MGM's latest forecasts indicate harsh weather conditions affecting large swaths of the country today, with yellow code warnings issued for 55 provinces.

Precipitation is expected to be locally strong in the Eastern Mediterranean, eastern Antalya, western parts of Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, as well as areas around Samsun, Ordu, Tokat, Giresun, Trabzon, Gümüşhane, Bayburt, Bingöl and Diyarbakır.

The MGM urged caution against possible hazards, including transportation delays, flooding, flash floods, lightning, small-scale hail, freezing, frost in snowy zones, and blizzards.