site.btaSchools Closed, 124 Flights Cancelled Due to Winter Conditions in Istanbul

Schools in Istanbul are closed on Monday due to snow and adverse winter conditions, the city governor's office said. State and municipal employees with disabilities, pensioners, pregnant women and mothers with children under eight have the day off from work.

Adverse weather has also affected air travel. On Monday, 124 flights were cancelled, including 54 Turkish Airlines flights at Istanbul Airport. Pegasus Airlines, which operates the Istanbul-Sofia route, also cancelled 54 flights.

"Snow is forecast in many areas, especially in higher parts of the European side of Istanbul. Temperatures will drop to 3C, and strong northeast winds may reach 55 km/h," the city governor's office said. Residents were urged to stay indoors. Flooding and disruptions to public transport are also possible, according to Istanbul's Disaster Coordination Centre.

The Turkish Meteorological Directorate warned of heavy rain and snow on Monday and Tuesday across 55 provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara.

In Ankara, schools in suburban districts are closed, though urban schools remain open. Rain is expected to turn to snow in places. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach around 2C, with sub-zero conditions overnight, state-owned news channel TRT Haber reported.

Other provinces affected by school closures on Monday include Bingol, Sivas, Adiyaman, Yalova, Tunceli, Kahramanmaras, Yozgat, Kocaeli, Malatya and Sakarya. Regular winter holidays for school students are scheduled to begin on January 16.