A thunder snowstorm hit in the parts of northern Iraq and northern Syria. Many people in the Kurdistan Region felt delighted while playing in the snow; however, such bad conditions of the nation can be dangerous for others, especially living in a camp.

People who belonged to the Kurdistan Region capital, Erbil, woke up and found the whole city blanketed in snow, rejoicing many residents.

According to Zirak Jamal, “the happiness was very easy to seen on people’s faces, they started posting pictures and videos of the snow on their social media handles.”

Jamal further added that Erbil received this kind of snow the last time in 2004. He added that the mountains in the Kurdistan Region near the border of Turkey regularly get snow. Erbil acquired around three centimetres of snow this time.”

Snow also fell in northern Syria, where “Jihan Filik” braved the storm with her family in Bayramajah, west of the city of Afrin. Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups controls the area. she said, “roads were closed for two days and opened on January 20 when the local government reopened them on Thursday evening.”

“Everyone was locked at their homes; even after having a car, one could not use it,” said Filik.

She remebered that the last time the area received snow was in 2003, and it was whopping 30 centimetres of snow.

Filik’s family used the fireplace to get warm themselves. They also have a gas-powered generator, and they have already purchased sufficient food to last them while being locked at home.

She added, “we have already stocked enough bread, and we have a generator, but others don’t have this.”

The storm seems to have passed. According to Accuweather, radar showed no new snowfall in Iraq and Syria the night of January 20, but only a rainstorm above in Iran in the Caspian Sea.