Kabul experiences coldest weather in 15 years

The Afghan meteorological service says Kabul is experiencing the worst weather it has had in at least 15 years.

National Weather Center meteorologist Abdul Qadir Qadir said Wednesday that temperatures in the Afghan capital have dipped as low as 3 Fahrenheit (minus 16 Celsius), with the lowest previous on record at minus 1 F (17 C) about 15 years ago.

He said the coldest temperature on record for Kabul was minus 15 F (minus 26 C) and was recorded 40 years ago.

The cold, combined with about 19.6 inches (50 centimeters) of snow, has caused power blackouts and iced over most of the capital's roads. It also has caused a sharp increase in demand for wood, the main fuel used by the city's five million residents to heat their homes.

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