A snowy road in the Bekaa, Dec. 28, 2025. (Credit: Sarah Abdallah)
New snowfall was recorded on Sunday in several regions of Lebanon for the second consecutive day, leading to the closure of multiple roads and the mobilization of snow removal teams.
The storm that began overnight Saturday to Sunday brought heavy rainfall to most of the country, turning into snow in mountainous regions, notably on the summits of Kesrouan, northern Lebanon, and the Bekaa, at an altitude of 1,250 meters, where snow depth reached 15 cm for the first time this season.
Unlike the snowfall episode two weeks ago, the snow might stick this time, as another atmospheric depression is forecast in the coming days.
"We are currently recording about 25 cm of snow at the bottom of the slopes. The storm expected from Monday should bring more snowfall, which could allow us to consider an opening soon," a spokesperson for the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfar Dibian, the highest ski area in Kesrouan, told L'Orient-Le Jour.
However, he specified that no date can be confirmed at this stage. "The opening will depend on a complete evaluation of the snowpack and general conditions to ensure a safe opening for our teams and skiers. We will announce a date as soon as the situation is clear enough," he added.
Snow removal operations
The Public Works and Transport Ministry said in a statement that its "snow removal teams remain mobilized 24/7 to deal with the consequences of the snowstorm and ensure the safety of people in mountainous areas."
Rescue operations were also conducted at dawn in Ainata (Baalbeck district) to evacuate people trapped by snow in Ain Arghash–Marjeen.
Clearing work continues on several roadways, including Faraya, Kfar Dibian, Ouyoun al-Siman, Qanat Bakish (Kesrouan), Laqlouq (Jbeil), the Cedars ski station above Bsharri (northern Lebanon), and Akkar.
In the Bekaa, Public Works snowplows have cleared roads above an altitude of 1,500 meters, reports our correspondent.
All roads in the region are now passable for all vehicles, although heavy rains have also created large puddles. Bekaa farmers noted that these rains are recharging groundwater tables that have been threatened by drought in recent times.
Further north, in Akkar, snow also fell at an altitude of 1,200 meters, leading to the closure of roads connecting Akkar to the Bekaa via Hermel, which is at 1,600 meters and above, according to our correspondent in the region.
The head of the snow removal center in the Jurd al-Qita region, Khaled Dib, said that several roads remain cut off, such as those in Meshmesh, Qamwa, Shenbouq al-Qobeiyat, and Beit Jaafar, while others have been cleared, such as in Fneideq, thanks to the relative calm following the storm Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, torrential rains from Saturday night through Sunday raised river levels, particularly those of the Nahr al-Kabir, Nahr al-Astan, Nahr al-Bared, and Arqa. The Darb Akkar association reported that weather stations recorded up to 100 mm of rain, as in Qobeiyat.
Reporting contributed by our correspondents Michel Hallak and Sarah Abdallah
