A forest in Fnaidiq, in Akkar, covered in snow, on Feb. 6, 2025. (Credit: Michel Hallak)
After a dry January characterized by particularly low rainfall, February finally seems to give winter its true appearance. Driven by the storm "Acil," the first seasonal precipitation is gradually settling in for the second consecutive day. Certain regions, such as Akkar, have seen snowfall starting from 900 meters above sea level.
In this region, snow that had already begun falling during the night led to the closure of schools.
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in Northern Lebanon, teams from the Public Works Ministry, the Union of Municipalities in the Jurd al-Qaytaa region, and the municipality of Fnaidiq have been working since morning to reopen the snow-covered roads.
Khaled Dib, head of the snow clearance center in this region, stated that all mountain roads connecting Akkar to the Bekaa through Hermel were blocked.
Starting from 900 meters above sea level, the snow layer reaches 30 centimeters thick, and it reaches about 80 centimeters on heights above 1,300 meters.
There are persistent fears of flooding of the Nahr al-Kabir, particularly in the Arida region on the coast in the extreme north of the country due to the accumulation of debris at the river's mouth. This situation is exacerbated by the destruction of the bridge at the local border post, caused by several Israeli strikes.
Flooded roads, muddy torrents
According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa, snowfall has also been reported in the Baalbeck-Hermel region from dawn, at an altitude of 900 meters, forming a thin white layer on the heights. In the Bekaa plain, heavy rains have caused floods, transforming main and inner roads into actual water expanses, while torrents of mud have swept through several localities.
The violent storms, accompanied by heavy hail and snow, as well as the significant drop in temperatures, have caused material damage, school closures, and heavily disrupted traffic.
According to forecasts, snow is expected to fall during the day from 700 meters of altitude in the Bekaa and from 800 to 900 meters in the south of the country. For the first time this year, Lake Qaraoun (West Bekaa), with a dam of the same name, was covered with snow.
On Thursday afternoon, An-Nahar published photos showing the Dahr al-Baidar and Sawfar regions covered in a thick layer of snow that had fallen overnight. The two regions are located at an altitude of between 1,300 and 1,500 meters, in the mountains of the Aley district, along the Damascus road linking Beirut to the Bekaa.
In the morning, the authorities called on residents to equip their cars with chains before driving.
Also on Thursday afternoon, the municipality of Kfardebian (in the Kesrwan region) issued a statement asking citizens “not to travel to Faqra or Mzaar (where the ski slopes are located) unless they are equipped with vehicles fitted with chains or 4x4s, in order to preserve public safety.”
The municipality also urged people not to obstruct the movement of snowplows and other construction equipment clearing the roads.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.