This year’s first snow storm battered much of Iran Saturday night, causing airport closures, disrupting traffic and shutting schools across the country.

Having started on Thursday the snowstorm peaked late Saturday, affecting two-thirds of the population in more than 20 provinces, Press TV reported. The north of country was hit hardest, with some areas receiving 80 centimeters of snow.

Two international airports in the capital were closed – Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad – and Tehran-bound flights were diverted to airports in Isfahan and Mashhad, according to Tasnim news agency. The airports resumed work Sunday morning after clearing runways of snow.

Thousands of motorists were stuck on inter-city highways, with rescuers from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, emergency services and ambulance rushing to help stranded commuters. Those traveling by train also experienced delays.

Heavy snow buries much of Iran, strands travelershttps://t.co/VhyX3yTwZ1pic.twitter.com/p5IsFetWgc — Press TV (@PressTV) January 28, 2018

All schools were closed in Tehran, with Mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi asking young residents to help municipality workers shake off snow from trees after several branches collapsed on electricity cables and cars under the weight.

Публикация от sadegh_S2MZ (@sadegh_s2mz) Янв 28, 2018 at 10:05 PST

ثلوج اليوم في العاصمة الإيرانية #طهران#ايرانو رقص رياضة الزومبا من مجموعة هواة المشي بإحدى حدائق طهران pic.twitter.com/g8M38WXQVA — الاهوازي (@ahvaz777) January 28, 2018