Snow is falling. (Photo provided by L'Orient Today's correspondent in northern Lebanon, Michel Hallak)
The winter storm "Adam" announced earlier in the week is far from having reached its peak, although Lebanon has cooled down since Friday. Initially forecasted at around 300 meters altitude, snow eventually fell on Saturday from 800 meters on the country's mountains, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in north Lebanon.
The bulldozers of the Ministry of Public Works continued their work to reopen the main road linking the villages of the Jurd al-Qayta heights up to Sahlat al-Qammoua, where the snow thickness reached about a meter, while temperatures continued to drop rapidly.
The head of the snow removal center in the region, Khaled Dib, said that the intensity of the storm was going to increase, warning against driving on mountain roads due to the risk of ice layer formation. He also mentioned that contacts had been established with the governor of the Akkar region and the Internal Security Forces to take necessary measures to ensure and regulate traffic during the weekend towards the Qammoua region. Thus, vehicles not equipped with metal chains will be prohibited from accessing this area, which attracts thousands of visitors every week wishing to enjoy the snowy landscape, to avoid traffic disruptions and to allow snow removal equipment to continue their work.
The traffic directorate in Lebanon indicated on Sunday morning that several roadways were closed due to snow accumulation. The Ainata-Arez, Baalbeck-Kfardebian, Akoura-Baalbeck, Hermel-Sir, Hermel-Kobeyat, Maasser al-Chouf-Kifri roads are totally impassable. The Tarshish-Zahleh road can be used by four-wheel-drive vehicles, as specified by the directorate. All these roads connect Mount Lebanon to the Bekaa plain.
Finally, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in south Lebanon, snow fell in Jezzine (1,300 meters altitude), but also in Khiam (around 700 meters). It also snowed in Beit Mery, at 800 meters altitude.
