Snow and lightning in Akkar, northern Lebanon. (Credit: Michel Hallak/LOLJ)
BEIRUT — Rain, cold and snow swept across Lebanon as the country experienced its first sustained winter conditions late in 2025, following a year marked by severe drought during its first 10 months.
Several mountain roads were closed Monday morning because of snow accumulation, according to the road management center. They include:
- Maasser al-Chouf–Kefraya road (Chouf to the Bekaa)
- Tannourine al-Fawqa–Hadath al-Jibbe (North Lebanon)
- Ainata al-Arez (Cedars of Bsharri)
- Kfar Dibian–Hadath Baalbeck (Kesrouan to North Bekaa)
- Akoura–Hadath Baalbeck (Jbeil to North Bekaa)
- Hermel–Sir al-Dinnieh (North Bekaa to North Lebanon)
- Hermel–Qobeiyat (North Bekaa to Akkar)
Meteo-Lebanon said the storm is caused by a depression coming from the Black Sea, accompanied by cold air masses affecting Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures.
On Monday, temperatures fell below seasonal averages, with heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and snow starting at about 1,400 meters.
The storm is expected to ease by early Tuesday, but another weather system is forecast to arrive Wednesday afternoon from northwestern Turkey, bringing renewed rain and snow through Friday. Cold and unstable weather is expected to persist through New Year’s Eve.
Meteo-Lebanon warned of torrents forming on roads because of heavy rainfall expected on Monday and Thursday and advised against using mountain roads above 1,500 meters because of snowfall.
Emergency response and damage control
L'Orient Today's north Lebanon correspondent reported that all peaks above 1,200 meters were blanketed in snow, with more than 40 centimeters accumulating above 1,600 meters.
Snowplows from the Ministry of Public Works have been operating since Sunday night to clear roads, according to Khaled Dib, head of the snow-clearing center in Akkar.
In Akkar, heavy coastal rainfall — more than 29 millimeters in 24 hours, according to Meteo-Lebanon — caused rivers to swell, notably the Nahr al-Kabir, which forms part of the border with Syria, raising concerns among farmers about potential flooding.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport said all response teams were mobilized to address actual and potential damage. As of Sunday evening, no flooding incidents had been reported.
Over the weekend, ministry teams coordinated with coastal municipalities to clean and maintain rainwater drainage channels along the Tripoli–Beirut highway as a preventive measure.
The ministry also reported clearing fallen trees in Antelias, in North Metn, and Mazboud, in Iqlim al-Kharroub, with support from Civil Defense and the Internal Security Forces. In Tabarja, in Kesrouan, stones from an old retaining wall fell onto the highway and were quickly removed.
Late Sunday night into Monday, Civil Defense teams rescued several people stranded in the snow during a four-wheel-drive excursion in the Dinnieh highlands. No injuries were reported.
In a separate incident Sunday evening near the Marbin hills, also in Dinnieh, an all-terrain vehicle carrying a family skidded on snow. The family was rescued, and only material damage was reported.
Red Cross precautions
The Lebanese Red Cross said ambulance and emergency teams have been placed on full alert nationwide for New Year’s Eve, supported by about 190 ambulances and nearly 800 paramedics. Four-wheel-drive vehicles have been assigned to mountain regions to respond to snow-related emergencies. The public can call the toll-free emergency number 140.
The Red Cross added that its blood transfusion centers in Spears (Beirut) and Tripoli will operate 24 hours a day throughout New Year’s Eve to meet demand for all blood types, depending on availability. Information about blood donations is available by calling 1760.
The organization also warned that the holiday season increases the risk of heart attacks and road accidents, citing factors such as fatigue, speeding and excessive alcohol consumption. It advised avoiding strenuous activity, staying warm and hydrated, limiting alcohol intake and seeking immediate medical help in case of chest pain.
To reduce road accidents, the Red Cross urged drivers not to drink alcohol, avoid speeding and distracted driving, wear seat belts and ensure vehicles are in good condition. It also warned against carbon monoxide poisoning, advising against using charcoal or wood in enclosed spaces and stressing the need for proper ventilation and safe heating systems.
Heavy rainfall triggered a landslide on the main Tannourine road in the Batroun highlands of northern Lebanon, near the Bassatine al-Assi junction, leaving the road partially impassable, the state-run National News Agency reported.
No injuries were reported, but the landslide has made the road dangerous for motorists.
The heads of the affected municipalities contacted Batroun municipal federation president Roger Yazbeck, who pledged to deploy the necessary equipment to reopen the road. This is the second landslide caused by rain in the past three days.
