New cold wave | Snowfall to hit Turkey again, education suspended in 6 cities

* Photo: Bitlis, March 15, 2022 / Anadolu Agency (AA)

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According to forecasts of Directorate General of Meteorology, snowfall and cold weather will hit Turkey starting from Thursday (March 17).

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Marmara region in northwestern Turkey, the Black Sea region in the north and Eastern Anatolia region will receive heavy snowfall for a week.

Following the warning of the Directorate General of Meteorology, education has been suspended for a day (today) in six provinces:

■ Van: Primary and secondary schools in İpekyolu, Tuşba and Edremit districts have been on snow holiday for a day.

■ Rize: The suspension of education in all public and private schools and courses has been extended for another day.

■ Ordu: Education has been suspended in all schools in the districts of Akkuş, Aybastı, Çamaş, Çatalpınar, Çaybaşı, Gölköy, Gürgentepe, İkizce, Kabadüz, Kabataş, Korgan, Kumru, Mesudiye, Ulubey while it has been suspended in the schools in rural parts of Altınordu, Fatsa, Ünye and for the students receiving mobile teaching for a day.

■ Giresun: Education has been suspended in all schools in five districts and in village schools in seven districts for a day.

■ Ağrı: Education has been suspended in all village schools across the province for a day.

■ Trabzon: In Çaykara, Dernekpazarı, Düzköy, Hayrat, Köprübaşı, Maçka, Şalpazarı and Tonya districts, education has been suspended in all schools for a day while it is the case for mobile teaching in the districts of Araklı, Arsin, Of, Sürmene and Yomra districts.

Snowfall in Ankara and İstanbul

According to forecasts, the capital city of Ankara in the Central Anatolia region is expected to receive sporadic snowfall starting from tomorrow (March 17). Temperatures will fall across Turkey as of March 18 and they will remain below the seasonal normals for a week.

In İstanbul, which has recently been hit by heavy snowfall and blizzards, the snowfall will start with rain showers. Then, the entire city will receive sleet and snow starting from March 18. İstanbul is expected to receive heavy snowfall in some areas till early next week.

İzmir and the Black Sea region

In Turkey's İzmir province in the west, the weather will be partly and mostly cloudy and the city will receive sporadic rainfall and rain showers. Temperatures are expected to be under seasonal normals.

In the Black Sea coast of the country in the north, the provinces of Trabzon, Rize and Artvin have received a warning about snowfall. Starting from midnight tomorrow, the provinces will receive heavy snowfall (10-20 cm to over 20 cm new snow cover in some areas).

Temperatures below the seasonal normals

According to the forecasts, strong storms from the north and northeast are expected in the west and the temperatures will drop below the seasonal normals by 4 to 8 degrees for a period of one week.

Citizens and drivers are warned against interruptions in transportation, ice and frost on the roads and snow storms and avalanche hazard in high and steep mountainous regions of the country. (AEK/SD)