Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) is working today to make the possible problems that may be encountered in the winter predictable and to produce solutions in a coordinated manner. Winter Preparation Studies and Evaluation Meetingcarried out. Officials from the General Secretariat and its units, together with the Disaster Affairs Department, which manages AKOM, attended the meeting; Police, AFAD, Gendarmerie, Highways and various operators were also present.
LONG TERM FORECAST: SNOW IS EXPECTED AFTER THE EARLY JANUARYAt the meeting, the data presented by Ergün Cebeci, Head of the Disaster Affairs and Risk Management Department, was conveyed in the following framework: December precipitation will be at seasonal norms; Temperatures will drop towards winter values in the last week of the month. The most likely period for snowfall is predicted to be from early January to mid-February; March will be relatively mild and rainy.
SNOW SHOWLING AND ROAD WORKSIMM will be on the field with a total of 11,242 personnel and 3,492 vehicles/work machines within the scope of combating winter conditions. Teams will be kept ready for 637 intervention points on the 4,298 kilometer road network; 44 vehicles will serve on the metrobus line. The Road Maintenance and Infrastructure Coordination Department will be on site with 1,551 vehicles and construction equipment; 755 of these will be snow plowing and salting trucks, and 260 will be construction machines positioned at critical points. In addition, IETT, Metro Istanbul and City Lines will organize additional services in heavy snowfall.
SALT STOCKS AND SUPPLY PLANIMM’s current salt stock is recorded as 165 thousand tons; 45 thousand tons of the additional purchase of 100 thousand tons, whose tender has been completed, have reached the warehouses, and the remaining shipment is continuing. While a new purchase of 150 thousand tons was made with the tender held on November 14, 2025, it is aimed to have a total of 370 thousand tons of salt ready in warehouses by January 15, 2026. The 34,500-ton demand from district municipalities will be met when the shipment is completed.
RESPONSE TEAMS AT CRITICAL POINTS• 377 boxes and bags of salt will be prepared in advance for critical intersections and roads. • During snowfall, snow shoveling, salting and ice breaking works will be carried out in squares, bus stops, subway entrances, piers, hospitals and schools. • Rapid response plans will be implemented for icicles, fallen trees and other risky items.
ICING EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (BEUS)The teams in the field will be directed instantly in line with the data coming from BEUS, which is established at 60 points across Istanbul; The entire operation process will be monitored with the vehicle tracking system.
VEHICLE RESCUE AND KEEPING RURAL ROADS OPENWhile 51 tow trucks, rescuers and cranes were kept ready on the main arteries and ring roads, plans were prepared to open barriers at 31 critical points to prevent strandings due to traffic accidents. In addition, 170 tractors with snow plowing equipment will be distributed to headmen’s offices to keep village roads open.
WINTER SERVICE FOR THE HOMELESSAs of November 11, winter service for homeless people was activated. Those living on the streets are placed in IMM facilities and contracted hotels under the coordination of the Hospice Directorate, after security checks with the Police teams. Currently, approximately 350 homeless citizens are being hosted.
MOBILE KITCHEN AND EMERGENCY SERVICESMobile kiosks will be deployed at critical points during heavy snowfall; Hot drinks and soup will be provided for drivers in hospital emergency rooms, piers and areas with heavy traffic. Additionally, 6 mobile toilets will serve at critical points.
