Extreme weather conditions grip Turkey’s west

Istanbul's western and northern outskirts were partly covered in snow on Feb. 12 following warnings from both meteorological and local authorities.

Snowfall was partially effective in districts located in the far west of the metropolis such as Beylikdüzü, Büyükçekmece, Çatalca and Silivri.

But heavy snowfall may cripple life in Istanbul and neighboring provinces starting from Feb. 13 and it will continue until the beginning of the week, according to a report from Milliyet daily.

Cold weather hailing from the Balkans will hit Turkey, particularly Istanbul where "the depth of snow will reach as high as one meter," says the report, based on an estimate modeled on the Global Environmental Multiscale Model (GEM) for Canada.

But Turkey's State Meteorological Service officials said a repeat of the 1987 winter when Istanbul was hit by a heavy snowfall for 18 hours on days between February and March is out of question in the face of reports and rumors.
They stated that a cold weather and snowfall will be effective in much of northwestern Turkey and higher altitude regions throughout the country's western provinces, adding that it may last for five to six days.

Severe winter conditions will replace a 10-day dry and relatively warm spell in the city.

Authorities also warned drivers about slippery, snowy roads and advised them to take the necessary precautions as snowfall and cold weather are expected to continue well into the weekend.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will deploy 1,351 vehicles, including snowplows and bulldozers, and 7,031 personnel to clear roads.

The city is also on alert for strong winds whose speeds are expected to reach up to 60 kilometers per hour on the following days.