Heavy snowfall shuts schools across Turkey

ISTANBUL

Schools across Turkey are closed on Tuesday due to heavy snowfall and ice, according officials.

Authorities in at least 26 out of 81 -- mostly central -- provinces across the country said the schools were closed for the day.

Konya, Bursa, Canakkale, Balikesir, Agri Adiyaman, Bitlis, Tunceli, Karaman, Kocaeli, Erzincan, Sakarya, Mersin are among the provinces hit by heavy snowfall.

Intermittent snowfall is expected in parts of Istanbul, said the Regional Directorate of Meteorology in Istanbul in a statement on its website.

The agency also warned Istanbulites about negative conditions due to ice and frost.

Reporting by Izzet Taskiran:Writing by Handan Kazanci