Winter of 2009–10 in Europe

With cold weather and snowfall embracing Turkey in the first month of the new year, animal lovers have started to dress their pets following the cold weather conditions. (AA Photo)

An abrupt change in weather will bring cold and rain tonight. In western Bulgaria and the Pre-Balkans, the temperature drop will turn the rain to snow, said the press office of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA).

Adverse weather conditions that have wreaked havoc across Turkey are set to continue, meteorologists have warned amid a disruption of access to countless villages due to heavy snowfall.

Weather is expected to deteriorate, and in high mountain areas rain may turn to snow. The weather forecast has suggested a significant drop in temperatures. In this regard, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) is urging drivers who plan to travel through mountain passes not to take to the road with summer tyres and to adjust their speed to the weather conditions.

Weather is expected to deteriorate, and in high mountain areas rain may turn to snow. The weather forecast has suggested a significant drop in temperatures. In this regard, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) is urging drivers who plan to travel through mountain passes not to take to the road with summer tyres and to adjust their speed to the weather conditions.

The airport in the Swiss city of Geneva closed on Thursday due to bitterly cold weather that has hit many parts of Europe this week with snow and icy winds, causing travel chaos.

"Because of the prevailing weather conditions, Genève Aéroport is currently closed to air traffic until further notice," the airport said on its website, quoted by Reuters. 

Rome woke to its first snowfall in six years yesterday as chilling winds from Siberia swept across Europe, bringing freezing temperatures that have claimed at least four lives, closed schools and disrupted travel.

Heavy snowfall overnight, particularly in northern and central Greece, caused serious traffic problems and led to the closure of dozens of schools on Monday.

Forecast snowfall and cold weather have badly affected Istanbul's rush-hour traffic, increasing the traffic density to up to 90 percent. 

Breakdowns and small-scale accidents brought traffic to a near halt while a number of cars were slowed to a crawl on major highways. 

The snowfall is forecast to last all night as well as Saturday.

The spell of mild weather Serbia that enjoyed this week will end on Saturday, the Hydro-Meteorological Institute (RHMZ) has warned.

Snowfall is expected then, while Sunday will be "a freezing day" - i.e., the temperature will not rise above zero degrees Celsius at any point during 24 hours.