Freezing weather forced the Education Department of Ardebil Province to close schools for two consecutive days on Sunday and Monday, said Ali Dolati Mehr, director general of Ardebil’s Meteorological Office. “While the snowfall has reduced over the past day, the temperature has dropped to -20 in some cities in the province including Khalkhal, Sarein and Meshginshahr,” Alef News Agency quoted him as saying. At present, 229 snow sweepers are operating to clear snow on all provincial rural and urban roads.