Rare freezing temperatures chilled a large swath of the Middle East and Persian Gulf region.
The most bitter cold front to blow over the eastern Mediterranean since 1964 plunged much of the Middle East into a deep freeze.
The chill destroyed fruits and vegetables from the Jordan Valley to Syria.
In normally temperate Egypt, temperatures hovering just above freezing left residents shivering in homes designed for scorching summers.
"It's definitely much colder than ever before," said Mohammed Ahmed, a shivering delivery driver who had to pilot his moped through Cairo's rain-slicked streets. "I'm drinking a lot of coffee and espresso to keep warm and alert because the roads are crazy."
Sub-freezing temperatures in Baghdad forced Iraqis to huddle around kerosene heaters.
Satellite Image: Earthbrowser
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