Armenia braces for snow and blizzards as Mediterranean cyclone approaches

Armenia is set to experience snow, blizzards and poor visibility as a cyclone moving in from the Mediterranean affects the country from the afternoon of 9 January and through 10 January, the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center reports.

The warning comes after a sharp rise in temperatures over the past two days, driven by the inflow of warm tropical air masses. Nighttime temperatures across the country have increased by 16–20C compared with 3 January, and by as much as 25–30C in some areas. Regions that recently recorded extreme cold of -30C or lower are now seeing temperatures near or above freezing, with parts of Syunik reaching +8C to +12C.

Forecasters say snowfall is expected in several regions, with strong winds of 17–20 m/s in mountainous areas, leading to blizzard conditions and reduced visibility. Temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged over the next five days.