Heavy snowfall began to lash the city on Monday afternoon after moving in from the country's northwestern Thrace region on the way.

Snow depth in the high and rural areas of the city has exceeded 30 centimeters in the Asian side of the city.

All flights to and from Istanbul Airport were temporarily halted until 13 p.m. local time. due to heavy snowfall in the city.

All Istanbul-bound traffic from Anatolia and Thrace has been halted over the snowstorm.

Civil servants, except for security, health and transportation services, will be allowed to be on full-time administrative leave on Tuesday due to the difficulties in transportation.

“Severe cold wave in Istanbul will continue throughout the week,” the Metropolitan Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) said in a statement.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu, and head of Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) Yunus Sezer headed to the metropolitan city to oversee the efforts to combat snow.

According to the county’s meteorological agency, the snowfall could last for four days with a severe drop in temperatures. (ILKHA)