Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean basin are currently affected by a weather depression centered north of Turkey, accompanied by cold air masses that are causing temperatures to drop below seasonal averages, along with occasionally heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Snowfall is also expected at altitudes starting from 2,200 meters.
This depression is expected to persist until Sunday morning, after which more stable autumn weather should return, with temperatures gradually rising.
Since dawn, northern regions of Lebanon have seen heavy rainfall along the coast and in the mountains, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and strong winds, leading to a significant drop in temperatures.
The heavy rains have turned streets and roads into large puddles and streams.
In the high mountain areas, snow fell for the first time this season, covering Qornet al-Sawda, the al-Arbaine mountains in Dennieh, and the upper Cedars region, offering a white landscape overlooking Bcharre, Ehden, Hadath al-Jebbé, and surrounding villages.
In Saida, in southern Lebanon, rain and thunderstorms were absent in the morning, and the weather appeared partly sunny to cloudy.
Disruptions at the Airport
The severe weather disrupted operations overnight at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, where several planes were unable to land due to thunderstorms and heavy rain, forcing them to divert to Larnaca Airport in Cyprus.
Later, two out of five planes were finally able to land in Beirut, and by the early morning hours, air traffic had returned to normal as the weather depression began to subside.
According to relevant sources, diverting flights during storms or low-pressure systems is a routine procedure aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers and flight operations.
Power Outage in 30 Towns in Nabatieh District Due to the Storm
A severe thunderstorm that struck shortly after midnight hit the Nabatieh power station located at the Kfarroman–Nabatieh roundabout, causing transformers No. 1 and No. 2 to go completely out of service due to the extensive damage inflicted directly by the lightning.
As a result, 30 towns in the Nabatieh district that are supplied by the damaged station have been left without electricity. The storm also caused the shutdown of the service line, known locally as the 24-hour line, which supplies groundwater wells and hospitals in the area, leading to expected water cuts in several towns across the district.
Maintenance teams have begun assessing the damage to the station. Repair work is set to start on Monday morning, supported by specialized teams from Beirut.
Until the two damaged transformers at the Kfarroman station are restored, electricity will remain cut off in the affected localities of the Nabatieh district.
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