Potent storm to unleash wind and heavy snow across Turkey through Wednesday

By Jordan Root , AccuWeather meteorologist

December 13,2016, 10:42:58AM,EST

 

 

A potent storm system will send snow and wind across parts of Turkey through Wednesday, burying parts of the country in 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) of snow.
Cold air will funnel into the region, helping to bring the heaviest snow to the eastern portion of the country.

“The heaviest snow and worst travel conditions across eastern Turkey will be on Tuesday night and Wednesday,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.
This includes Eastern Anatolia and the Pontic Mountains where 60 cm (2 feet) of snow could fall. More could fall across the highest terrain areas.
Strong winds are expected to develop and will cause significant drifting of snow and whiteout conditions. Winds may gust up to 90 kph (55 mph) in some locations. Blizzard conditions can occur during the peak of the storm.
Heavy snow will pack quickly on roadways, and motorists will want to avoid travel during this time. Travel will severely be impacted, both on land and in the air.
“These kinds of conditions will lead to dangerous travel and potentially road closures,” Douty said.
Areas across western and central Turkey will also get snow but on a less intense scale. Ankara can expect 3 to 8 cm (1 to 3 inches) through Wednesday, which is enough to cause some slick spots and minor delays.
Istanbul will see some rain with a few snow flakes mixing in at times into Wednesday morning.
Temperatures will take a dive at midweek as cold air flows in behind the storm system. Temperatures will dip 4 to 8 C (10 to 20 F) below where they normal are Wednesday and Thursday.
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The snow will also fall across Lebanon and far northern Iraq across the mountains.
There will also be a risk for strong winds across Jordan, Syria and western Iraq which could bring blowing dust and reduced visibility.
The storm system will bring showers and thunderstorms to Israel, Lebanon, and western Syria Tuesday and Wednesday which may lead to issues.
“There could be locally heavy rain and flash flooding, perhaps even some hail with the strongest storms,” Douty said.