BEIRUT: Lebanon was hit with heavy snow and torrential rains across the country Friday, closing roads in Tannourine, Zahle and the Bekaa as the storm was expected to last throughout the weekend.

Snow 1.5 meters deep covered Tannourine and Batroun, causing the Tannourine-Laqlouq road to be blocked.

Two meters of snow also blocked the Tannourine-Hadath al-Gibbe road, leaving only the road connecting upper Tannourine to lower Tannourine open.

Heavy rains Friday morning disrupted the local telecommunications networks and power lines in Tannourine.

In Zahle, east Lebanon, snowplows worked hard to clear the Dahr al-Baidar road, part of the main Beirut-Damascus road, while snow also blocked the main Zahle-Tarshish road.

Meanwhile in the Bekaa, stormy weather hit Hasbaya and Arkoub, with snow covering Jabal al-Sheikh and the hills around Shebaa and Kfar Shouba. Heavy rains caused water levels to rise in the Hasbani and Wazzani rivers, damaging irrigation systems.

Snow also blocked the main Shebaa-Bekaa road through the village of Ain Ata.

Wind speeds of around 100 kilometers per hour pounded the Lebanese coastal regions.

A delegation of the country’s Higher Relief Committee visited Beit Younes in the Akkar district, following landslides in the village the previous day. A team of engineers and experts assessed the damage, and examined houses affected by the landslides.

The Internal Security Forces issued a warning to citizens of potentially dangerous levels of ice, particularly in areas in Mount Lebanon.

It also affirmed its readiness to assist citizens, particularly those in isolated mountain areas, and said it would stop cars attempting to drive down blocked roads.

The syndicate of driving centers released a similar statement, calling for drivers to remain alert while driving through hazardous conditions. The syndicate also stressed the importance of maintaining normal speeds and driving on the right side when the visibility becomes unclear.

Clouds and rain are expected to dominate the weekend weather, with snow expected to fall Saturday in areas at altitudes of 700 meters and above, and at 600 meters and above Sunday, according to the meteorology department at the Rafik Hariri International Airport.

In the capital, temperatures are expected to fall this weekend with a high of 11 degrees Celsius and low of 7 degrees Saturday. Sunday should see temperatures with a high of 13 degrees Celsius and a low of 5 degrees across the country.

Winds are expected to stay strong over the weekend, with highs of 100 kilometers an hour during the day Sunday.

Poor weather conditions have dominated since January with repeated spells of heavy rain blocking roads and destroying crops in various parts of the country.