[By Shideh] On Sunday, Tehran woke up to a heavy overnight snowfall which ended up shutting primary and secondary schools, blocking major roads, and canceling all domestic flights. All government offices closed on Monday and Tuesday, according to IRNA news agency. All roads in the northwest of the country were closed to traffic, meanwhile the international flights (which now run exclusively from Imam Khomenin International Airport) were delayed. Tehran lies at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters above sea level and is regularly hit by heavy falls of snow in winter (even though there have been some winters without major storms). State television has also reported that the snowfalls will continue in the coming days, while the cold weather has already created problems in the country with around a dozen towns suffering gas cuts last week (due to a surge in demand and cuts in exports from Turkmenistan)…
Image borrowed from: www.tehrandaily.wordpress.com
I wonder if this routine is normal. Is the country and specifically the capital city to suffer to this extent during a cold winter (which is expected on a regular basis) or are there reasonable and cost effective ways to prevent problems such as roads being closed and offices having to shut down (all of which can hurt the economy)? Is there need for more staff and more advanced machinery to clean the roads on time for public use (ex. Snow melting machines, etc.)? and if so, is the cost for such machinery justifiable given the existing economical costs associated with transportation difficulties, the shortage in budget, and all other existing infrastructure problems that may take priority?
Tehran Shake 
Thank you so much dear.
It is coming a new heavy snow and cold weather again.
Good questions. I am not in Iran, but I heard it has happened to many cities, such as Kerman where I come from; and people, children and families are enjoying it, making snowmans, sending funny pictures and skiing; but the country and responsible organisations are surprised, and I wonder how they want to handle it.
wish I was there now…
I can’t think of any place as beautiful and cozy as early morning pre-sunrise, snowy Tehran.
noonvaa, laboo, baaghaali and the muffled sound of cars in the snow
I just talked to my grand mother over the phone, who arrived in Tehran 3 days ago. She was praising the current Mayor for all the changes in the city. She lives in Koohestan, north of Niavaran (basically on the mountains), where the roads usually close even for mild snow. But she said this year, despite all the snow and extremely cold weather, the roads in the area have been cleaned and they never closed.
Happy to hear that:) I like improvements:D
I heard also from a relative in Tehran that street sanitation crews are really responsive now – unlike before. She was talking about this new hotline that they called to report a clogged joob (surface drainage stream’s common in Iran) and piled up trash; apparently they came and fixed everything the next day. This is a big improvement. (See post from Jan 11th, 2008 on TS about interview with Tehran’s new mayor.)
Dalam bara ya IRAN ya zara shodaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.