The 2013 Middle East cold snap refers to the winter storm that hit the Middle East region in December 2013, affecting Israel,Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories, and Egypt.[1][2] The storm caused mayhem to millions of poor and displaced people across the region, especially afflicting refugees from the Syrian conflict.[3][4]
Events by country
Cyprus
By December 14, the storm had covered the island's Troodos mountain range with snow.[1][2] Snowing had begun several days earlier, with snow reaching a peak thickness of 70 cm (27.56 inches) in Troodos.[5] Four hundred customers lost electricity, and several villages, including Armenohori, Farmakas, Kampi, andSina Oros, completely lost it for extended periods of time.[6]
Egypt
Egypt's capital Cairo witnessed extremely rare snowfall (mostly graupel) on Friday December 13 that the local media claimed to be the first in 112 years and night temperature was expected to drop as low as 2 °C (36 °F).[7][8][9]
Israel
Jerusalem was paralysed by its fiercest snowstorm in years, with its mayor calling out the army to help stranded motorists and authorities urging residents to stay indoors.[10] Netanyahu called it a "once-in-a-century" storm.
Roads were closed in Israel by deep snow and flooding. Thick clouds prompted Ben Gurion International Airport to shut down, forcing US Secretary of State John Kerry to cut short his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to return to Israel before roads and airports were out of service.[3][11] Jerusalem was cut off for 48 hours by deep snow and flooding and cars abandoned after they got stuck in snow.
After a day of lesser snow, a heavy snowstorm on 13 December 2013 deposited 40–70 cm (16–28 in) of snow in Jerusalem and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in the Kefar Etzion area. In warmer parts of Israel very heavy rain fell and caused flooding. The railway into Jerusalem ran although it was Sabbath for people stranded by blocked roads.
Jordan
In Jordan, Ghazi Sarhan, spokesman for Jordan’s Administration of Syrian Refugee Camps, announced on December 13, that “During the past 48 hours 10,000 blankets and 1,500 heaters have been distributed to refugees.”[10] Deep snow fell in Amman, where King Abdullah II of Jordan helped to push a car that had got stuck in snow.
Lebanon
It was reported that Lebanese Army was called in to help distribute emergency aid to Syrian refugees, as the UN handed out fuel, blankets, heaters and food rations yesterday amid a third day of severe winter weather in the region.[10]
According to Abou Faour's announcement, published in Al Nahar newspaper on December 12, “There are 1,600 refugee [makeshift camps] in addition to 431 random camps, which makes it difficult to reach these places. That is why the cabinet had to ask for the help of the army to make as much aid reach those refugees as possible”.[10]
West Bank
Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and many other towns and cities were coated in snow and some lower-lying areas suffered flooding from heavy rain.[10]
Snow in Nablus and Hebron ranged from 60–145 cm (24–57 in), and in Bethlehem 20–55 cm (7.9–21.7 in). The scene in Manger Square, the square adjacent to the Church of the Nativity was that of a white Christmas with the square fully decorated and covered with a deep coat of snow.
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip was lashed by torrential rain for a third day, and its Hamas rulers said that residents had been evacuated from 60 flooded homes since storms hit the coastal territory on December 11.[10]
Syria
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) issued plans to airlift 40 tonnes of food for 50,000-60,000 people into the northeastern province of Hasakha from Iraq. The UN airlift of urgently needed food for tens of thousands of people in northeastern Syria, originally planned for December 12, was however delayed by snow.[10]
According to Matthew Hollingworth, Syria Country Director for the United Nation’s World Food Programme, most internally displaced Syrians fled their homes with few belongings so they do not even have enough warm clothes or blankets to fend off the freezing weather. They desperately need fuel for heating and to cook the food they receive as humanitarian assistance.”[10] Reportedly, a child and a baby died from the cold on December 12, and an activist in a besieged rebel-held town of Hara said residents were struggling to stay warm with the electricity cut off and no food or fuel allowed in.
Meteorological history
Beginning December 11, a strong ridge in the jet stream caused a big anticyclone over Europe; its east edge drew a strong current of cold air south from the Arctic. This polar outbreak overspread Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean region, pushing below moist air associated with a passing front, causing heavy snow and sleet over higher elevations in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. At lower elevations, heavy rain from the system caused flooding in some areas.[12]
(The west edge of the same anticyclone drew in a warm southwest wind from around the Azores to Britain.)
References
1. ^ Jump up to:a b Yulsman, Tom. "Rare Mideast Snowstorm as Seen from Space". Discover. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Heylen, Kathleen. "Sneeuwstorm zet duizenden mensen zonder stroom". De Redactie (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 December 2013.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b "Wintry storm grips Middle East, worsens misery of Syrians". Yahoo News. December 13, 2013.
5. Jump up^ "Winter storm brings ice and snow to Cyprus, minus 6 in Troodos". Famagusta Gazette. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
6. Jump up^ "Storm prompts 1,700 calls to Cyprus Electricity Authority, 400 power cuts". Famagusta Gazette. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
7. Jump up^ "Cairo sees first snow in years as cold snap hits Egypt". The Daily Star. December 13, 2013.
8. Jump up^ "Snow In Egypt For The First Time In 100 Years, Reports Say (PICTURES)". The Huffington Post. December 13, 2013.
11. Jump up^ "Snow closes roads in Israel, is a source of wonder in Cairo". Los Angeles Times. December 13, 2013.
12. Jump up^ Burt, Christopher. "Topsy-Turvy Weather in Europe, Middle East". wunderground.com. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
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