The village of Kobayat covered in snow in Akkar on February 27, 2026. Photo shared by our correspondent Michel Hallak.
BEIRUT — A late-season burst of snow and biting northern winds has brought a welcome lift to Lebanon’s ski resorts, coating mountain slopes and extending hopes for a longer winter season.
The snowfall that accompanied the cold wave has notably benefited the resorts in Arz Bsharri in northern Lebanon and Faraya-Mzaar in the Kesrouan region.
Still, the accumulation is insufficient to allow already closed resorts — such as Laqlouq and Faqra in the Kesrouan district — to reopen, reception desks contacted by L'Orient Today reported, unless weather conditions shift significantly in the coming days. Laqlouq has invited visitors to follow updates on its social media accounts.
In the meantime, slopes were expected to remain closed on Friday as snow continued to fall on some mountains and extremely low temperatures froze both the snowpack and equipment. In Arz, where temperatures have dropped below zero, staff are waiting for a slight rise in temperature before resuming full activity.
"We are waiting for the mercury to rise a bit, but with what has fallen, I think we can remain open until the end of March if temperatures stay within seasonal norms," a reception desk representative in Arz said.
Snow below 1,000 meters
According to Jocelyne Abou Fares, head of division at Meteo Lebanon, temperatures have dipped as low as minus 3 degrees Celsius due to the influx of cold northwesterly and northerly winds. The system pushed snowfall down to 900 meters in northern Lebanon and even into parts of the Bekaa Valley.
A thin layer of snow also blanketed areas along the northern coast, particularly near Tripoli, according to images broadcast by Al Jadeed TV. Our regional correspondent confirmed snowfall in several localities, including Qobeiyat in the Akkar district at 700 meters.
At Faraya-Mzaar, operations manager Nicole Wakim voiced cautious optimism. "Thirty centimeters of snow fell in a short period, thickening the existing base at the bottom of the slopes," she said. "We will reinforce the slopes with artificial snow to keep them open as long as possible."
"The season is in full swing, and we are welcoming many people, both during the week and on weekends, with several events planned from March 7, including night skiing sessions," she added.
Wakim said she expects additional snowfall in March. "There should be more snow again overnight this weekend," Abou Fares also predicted.
Conditions are forecast to clear until Wednesday, when a new temperature drop is expected. "However, it will be less cold, and snow will fall only at around 1,500 meters," she said.
Asked about complaints circulating on social media regarding visitors leaving trash on the slopes, the Mzaar office said the issue had been resolved in coordination with the municipality and relevant authorities.
Abou Fares noted that recent rainfall has brought some regions, particularly northern Lebanon, close to seasonal averages, though totals remain slightly below normal overall. In the past 24 hours, 15.2 millimeters (mm) of rain fell in Tripoli, compared with 1.2 mm in Beirut and 7.8 mm in Zahle.
Since the beginning of the year, rainfall in north Lebanon stands slightly above average at 658.1 mm.
By contrast, Beirut remains below its seasonal norm — 415 mm compared with an average of 643 mm — while Zahle has recorded 367.6 mm against a norm of 562 mm.
Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak.
