BLIZZARD SWEEPS UP ARMENIA, TEMPERATURES GO SUBZERO
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 26, 2006 Tuesday 02:35 PM EST

There is a heavy snowfall almost throughout Armenia, including Yerevan.

The wind reaches 24 meters per second at the Pushkinsky mountain pass
in northern Armenia, and 22 meters per second at the Idzhevan mountain
pass in the east, the State Hydro-Meteorological Committee said.

The cyclone moving from the southwest will bring a lot of snow
to Armenia. The wind will increase to 25-30 meters per second in
the northwestern area of Shirak, the northern area of Lori and the
northeastern area of Tavush. The heaviest snowfalls are expected in
northwestern, central and southeastern regions.

Weathermen predict temperatures drop to by 8-10 degrees, Celsius. It
will be 25-30 degrees subzero in Shirak in the small morning hours
of Friday, while the rest of Armenia, including the Ararat Valley
and Yerevan, will have 20-25 degrees below zero.

Armenian Rescue Service Director Maj. Gen. Edik Bagsegian notified
regional services about the unfavorable weather forecast on Tuesday.

They were told to stay alert.