Amman - A blizzard swept through several Middle East countries over a 12-hour period to Wednesday, closing down roads, causing power outages and halting activities at schools, ports and businesses. Meteorologists said the harsh weather conditions were a result of a deep low pressure zone accompanied by a polar front that affected Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
In Jordan, the heavy snowfall in Amman and other major cities forced Prime Minister Nader Dahabi to declare Wednesday an official holiday.
Various government agencies went on maximum alert to be able to deal with any emergencies resulting from the bad weather conditions.
