Istanbul suspends education, bans motorcycles, couriers on Feb. 21 due to snow

Education has been suspended for Friday, February 21, due to the ongoing snowfall affecting Istanbul, as announced Thursday.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul stated, “To prevent our students from being impacted by adverse weather conditions, all educational activities in both public and private schools, as well as courses, have been suspended on Friday, February 21, 2025.”

Motorcycle ban imposed in Istanbul

Gul also announced that starting from 12:00 a.m. tonight, all types of motorcycles and couriers will be banned from driving until further notice due to the severe weather conditions.

A powerful snowstorm that began early Wednesday morning has blanketed most of Istanbul, severely disrupting daily life. The snowstorm, which is expected to persist for three more days, could lead to snow depths of up to 40 cm in certain areas.

The cold front, moving from the Black Sea region, has placed the city under intense snow conditions, significantly affecting transportation and daily routines.

Temperatures in Istanbul will range from 0 to 2 degrees Celsius until February 22, with lows dipping to between minus 1 and minus 2 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists have issued warnings for significant travel disruptions and continued heavy snow accumulation:

• Feb. 19: Snow will begin in the afternoon on the European side of Istanbul and Trakya, while Ankara will experience light snow.
• Feb. 20: Snow intensity will increase across Marmara and the Western Black Sea regions, with accumulations of 2-4 cm.
• Feb. 21: Snowfall will intensify, particularly in Istanbul and nearby areas, with depths reaching 10 cm or more in higher elevations.
• Feb. 22-23: Snow will continue, but precipitation is expected to decrease by Sunday as the cold front gradually exits Istanbul and Türkiye.

Several universities suspend education

Meanwhile, several universities in Istanbul have suspended classes due to the snow. Bogazici University and Istanbul Technical University moved to online instruction for February 20 and 21, while Istanbul University and Yildiz Technical University suspended all educational activities on February 20.

Additinoally, flight disruptions have also been severe, with Istanbul International Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport reporting significant cancellations. Istanbul Airport has reduced flight capacity by 15% on February 19 and by 20% on February 21. Turkish Airlines canceled 200 flights for February 21. Sabiha Gökcen International Airport also announced reductions, with flight cancellations of 15% on February 20 and 21, and 30% on February 22.

Local authorities continue to urge caution as the storm develops, with more updates expected as the situation unfolds.