Name: Heavy snow blankets Istanbul on first day of 2026
Uploaded: 2026-01-01T17:56:47.748Z
Duration: 1 min 5 s
Description: Istanbul welcomed the New Year from under a blanket of snow. On the first day of the new year, the Turkish city also received its first snowfall of the year.

Istanbul welcomed the New Year from under a blanket of snow. On the first day of the new year, the Turkish city also received its first snowfall of the year.

Istanbul

Istanbul received its first snowfall of 2026 on January 1, blanketing the city and causing significant disruptions. Motorists faced difficulties navigating snowy roads, and some areas reported up to 10 centimetres of snow. The cold weather affected much of Türkiye, with at least one fatality reported in Van province due to an avalanche. Schools in several cities will remain closed due to the heavy snowfall, and the weather service predicts the cold snap will last until the middle of the month.

Heavy snow blankets Istanbul on first day of 2026

Istanbul welcomed the new year from under a blanket of snow. On the first day of 2026, the Turkish city also received its first snowfall of the year. The weather service says it's the beginning of a cold snap expected to last until the middle of the month. After falling hard in the early morning, the snow eased off later in the day and people came out to enjoy the winter landscape. A few brave fishermen refused to be deterred by the freezing temperatures. But much of the city was thrown into chaos as motorists tried to navigate the roads. Parts of Istanbul received up to 10 centimetres of snow. The cold and snow have swept across much of the country. In the eastern province of Van, at least one person died in an avalanche. Schools in several cities will remain closed on Friday because of the heavy snowfall.

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