Politis

Istanbul Covered in Snow as Turkey Faces Harsh Winter Weather

Published January 2, 2026, 15:18
Istanbul Covered in Snow as Turkey Faces Harsh Winter Weather

Turkey ushered in the first day of 2026 with severe cold and snowfall in many cities, with parts of Istanbul covered in snow. Heavy snowfall was recorded in at least 63 cities, including Ankara, while authorities warned residents of 31 cities about the dangers of the weather conditions. Schools were closed in several cities due to New Year's Day and the snowfall. Striking images were captured of Istanbul, while in the Kurdish-majority city of Van, two avalanches hit rural areas. An elderly woman lost her life in one of the avalanches in Van, and 22 homes were evacuated due to the risk of further avalanches. Rescue efforts are underway. In remote areas, roads were closed to hundreds of villages due to the snowfall. The snowfall in Istanbul was more intense in the first half of the day and subsided in the afternoon. Authorities have taken measures to deal with the problems caused by the extreme weather conditions, while urging citizens to be careful and avoid unnecessary travel.

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