Ankara, January 12, 2026 — A severe winter storm has brought much of Türkiye to a standstill, forcing widespread school closures and prompting administrative leave for public workers. The disruption, triggered by heavy snowfall and the risk of avalanches, is impacting travel and daily life across the country.
A blanket of snow has paralyzed transportation and education systems in numerous provinces, with authorities prioritizing public safety.
- Schools were shuttered in major cities like Istanbul and Ankara, along with dozens of other districts.
- Administrative leave was granted to vulnerable public sector employees in Istanbul, including those with disabilities, pregnant workers, and parents of young children.
- The General Directorate of Meteorology issued a yellow code warning for 68 provinces, citing risks of storms, heavy rain, snow, and avalanches.
- Air travel has been significantly disrupted, with airlines advising passengers to check flight statuses.
The widespread closures began Monday, January 12, as a cold wave swept across the nation. Istanbul and Ankara were among the first to announce school cancellations due to hazardous weather conditions. The break in education, necessitated by the threat of icing and avalanches, extended into Tuesday for many regions.
What’s the immediate impact of the storm? School closures and administrative leave for public employees are the most visible effects, but disruptions to transportation, particularly air travel, are also significant.
The province of Slap announced a one-day suspension of education, with disabled and pregnant public employees granted administrative leave. Mus province issued an avalanche risk warning, also suspending classes for the day. Bingöl followed suit, citing extreme icing and avalanche risks, closing all schools and kindergartens on Tuesday. Tunceli declared a two-day break across the entire province.
The impact rippled through several other provinces. In Malatya, the snow holiday was extended to Tuesday in eight districts. Kahramanmaraş saw closures in six districts, with partial closures in four others. Eighteen districts across the provinces of hour, Batman, Kırklareli, Adıyaman, Yozgat, Sinop, Sivas, Mardin, and Kastamonu also announced school suspensions. Disabled and pregnant public employees were granted leave in areas where schools were officially closed.
Source, @IbbYolYapim
Administrative Leave in Istanbul
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The adverse weather extended beyond education and transportation. The Istanbul Governorship announced administrative leave for certain public employees, including veterans, disabled veterans, disabled personnel, pregnant workers, and those with children under eight. An exception was made for women in health, police, and snow control units, even if they had young children. Mothers with disabled children under eight were granted leave regardless of their unit.
Nationwide Yellow Code Warning
The situation in Istanbul is part of a larger pattern. The General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM) issued a yellow code warning for 68 provinces due to the risk of storms, heavy rain, snow, and avalanches. Affected provinces include Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, Erzurum, Trabzon, and Van.
MGM forecasts heavy rainfall in the south and east of Marmara, most of the Aegean, the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, the Western Black Sea, and areas around Amasya, Samsun, and Çorum. Citizens are urged to be cautious of potential floods, lightning strikes, and transportation disruptions.
Source, Getty Images
Significant Air Travel Disruptions
The storm isn’t just impacting roads and schools; air travel is facing major challenges. Airlines are urging passengers to stay updated on flight information through their websites and mobile apps.
Source, Getty Images
Meteorologists predict the snowfall will intensify in Istanbul and surrounding areas, as the cold wave, originating in Ukraine, is expected to persist for several days.
