Heavy snow closes Tibet’s gateway to Everest

Authorities in Chinese-occupied Tibet have suspended visitor access to the Mount Everest scenic area after unseasonally heavy snow made travel unsafe. Ticket sales were halted Tuesday as snow and ice accumulated across parts of Tingri County, near the Nepal border. Local officials warned that road conditions were unsuitable for vehicles. It remains unclear whether tourists are stranded in the area. Reuters reports the closure follows a recent blizzard that stranded hundreds of trekkers on the mountain’s eastern face. Forecasts predict temperatures in Tingri will drop further below freezing as the Himalayan storm continues.