Lebanon: Cold Wave - Jan 2023

In February 2023, Lebanon has been hit by a wave of severe winter weather, leading to a drop in temperature with snow at high altitudes and rain at lower altitudes, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Winter storm Farah hit Lebanon on 31 January 2023 and was followed by a cold spell and heavy precipitation. On 6 February, the weather deteriorated in the North of the country and the Ministry of Education announced the closure of public and private schools nationwide for a period of three days. Data from Interagency Coordination Lebanon indicate that people were impacted in the Bekaa Valley, Beirut and surrounding population centers in Mount Lebanon, and the South and North regions of the country (Interagency Coordination Lebanon 7 February). In Lebanon’s northernmost governorate of Akkar, 1-2 meters of snow were reported at high altitudes (National News Agency 9 February). Many roads were closed for a week or longer due to limited ability of municipalities to clear snow and ice. As of 14 February, many roads still above 1500 meters remained impassable due to snow accumulation (National News Agency 14 February). At lower altitudes in the same governorate, heavy rains led to flooding of waterways including the Kebir River which forms part of the border with Syria. In the Bekaa Valley, which stretches between two mountain ranges, heavy rains were reported at low altitudes. Flooding occurred at multiple sites, with an additional risk of flooding identified due to rising levels of the Litani River. In the northern Bekaa Valley in Baalbek-Hermel governorate, three Syrian children drowned when a waterway overflowed. The area was also affected by the closure of cross-mountain roads connecting the region to the rest of the country due to snow and ice accumulation (Al Jazeera 7 February). These conditions have left communities isolated and unable to access basic goods and services. (IFRC, 24 Feb 2023)