BEIRUT: Snow, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected for the rest of the week, after Wednesday’s rains caused flooding and a landslide in the Chouf.

Municipal workers in major cities began to prepare for the harsh weather by clearing drainage canals while fishermen at the country’s ports readied themselves for the storm by removing their boats from the water.

Heavy storms affected much of the country Wednesday, with snow in coastal and mountain areas accompanied by strong winds and heavy rains. In some areas, roads were transformed into artificial lakes, trapping vehicles, according to the National News Agency. The road between Fawarah and Wadi al-Sitt in the Chouf was completely closed and the municipalities of both villages, in cooperation with the Public Works and Transport Ministry, worked to clear the roads from fallen debris in a bid to reopen the route, according to the NNA.

Residents in mountainous areas complained about the lack of diesel at some gas stations, while the Energy Ministry was urged to secure electricity supplies for Akkar.

According to the Metereological Department at Rafik Hariri International Airport, the bad weather should clear up by Saturday.

The storm started in Eastern Europe and then spread to the Mediterranean, creating low atmospheric pressure over the area, according to the head of the Meteorological Department at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Marc Wehbeh.

“The storm will continue Thursday and Friday, when it will start to decline,” Wehbeh said, although rain would continue throughout the day Friday. Snow should fall as low as 1,000 meters, he said, after Wednesday’s snowfall at 1,200 meters.

Wehbe added that in the Bekaa valley, snow is expected to fall at 800 meters for the rest of the week.

As compared to last year, Wehbe said that “the amount of rain that has fallen so far has exceeded that of last year and this year is considered to be a generous one in terms of rainfall.”

Residents in southern Lebanon spent much of Wednesday preparing for the impending storm. In east Sidon and Iqlim al-Tuffah, many villagers were busy securing sources of heating, collecting wood from nearby fields for lack of cheap fuel substitutes.

Hajj Abdullah Karaki, who had just finished cutting wood for his fire in the Nabatieh village of Ain Boswar, despite his old age, said that diesel oil was expensive and red diesel oil, which is cheaper, was scarce.

Hasan Madi has been stockpiling large amounts of wood for days, as the recent drop in temperature has forced him to use more than usual.

In villages east of Sidon and in Jezzine, farmers were absent from their fields and stayed home due to the cold and wind. Some farmers had made and extra effort to prevent the storm from destroying their crops and secured their greenhouses.

Farmer George Masaad, who hoped the blessing of rain does not become a curse, said: “We fortified our greenhouses and the rest depends on God.”

Construction and infrastructure works on Jezzine road ceased Wednesday.