By Joseph A. KechichianSenior Writer

Beirut: After the ‘Vladimir’ and ‘Ursula’ storm couple that unleashed several inches of rain and snow during the past two weeks, Lebanon was battered by ‘Thalassa’, which may dump several inches of rain.

The storm, which started on Friday evening intensified today with strong winds that, forecasters predict, could reach 90 kilometres per hour in certain areas.

Snowfall was recorded overnight at 1,200 metres and above, though these were expected to increase in volume on Sunday and, perhaps, cover lower altitudes.

Security forces warned residents in villages and town above 600 metres to prepare and, if necessary, equip their cars with tyre-chains.

On Monday, temperatures are expected to drop to 9 degrees in Beirut and hover around that level until next weekend. A drop in temperatures was bound to create icy conditions, especially on mountain roads, which was why Civil Defence units were mobilised to ensure public safety.

On Saturday, the vital Dahr Al Baydar road that connected to the Bekaa Valley was only accessible to properly equipped SUVs. Several roads were blocked by snow, including the Tarshish-Zahleh, Hermel-Seer Al Dinnieh, Al Laqlouq-Al Aaqoura, Kfar Salwan-Tarshish, and Ouyoun Al Siman-Hadath Baalbek regions.

Lebanon has witnessed several storms this past month.

Eight months into an unending garbage crisis that has heightened public health concerns, rains are expected to add to existing woes.

In effect, heavy rains could mean that Beirut residents will have to put up with flooded streets, with the added ignominy of garbage floating around, since clearing refuse does not seem to be a priority for the dysfunctional public works department.

The Lebanese, who tend to laugh off their problems, joked: Who needs to go to Venice when we have our own?