Bad weather has covered a large part of the countries on the Balkan Peninsula, with snow falling in a number of areas, and temperatures dropping significantly, local media reported, quoted by BTA.
Snow and cold have frozen Romania, where a yellow code for adverse weather has been declared in almost the entire country. Temperatures dropped sharply by about 15 degrees within a day, and strong winds have knocked down numerous trees, some of which blocked traffic on the roads, reported Digi 24 TV.
Snow fell in the northern and central parts of the country, as well as in the capital Bucharest. Snowplows have begun clearing roads, and Romania's national railway company Ce Fe Re said snowfall and downed trees were hampering train services in the counties of Iași and Brașov.
According to meteorologists, the snow cover is expected to reach 5-10 centimeters in southern Transylvania, western Moldova and northern Muntenia, and up to 15-20 centimeters in mountainous areas. The lowest temperatures are expected to reach minus 10 degrees in eastern Transylvania.
The cold weather with mixed rain and snow, fog, icy patches and strong winds in Romania will last until Thursday, meteorologists predict.
Snow has also fallen in western Serbia, Tanjug reported. During the night, the rain turned into snow and accumulated snow cover both in the higher parts of the country and in some cities.
Snow fell in the western city of Užice, in the mountain areas of Zlatibor, Zlatar, Javor, Golija and Tara, as well as in the central cities of Topola and Kraljevo. In the early hours of this morning, the capital Belgrade was also covered in snowfall.
The snow cover in the area of the western city of Užice reached 5 centimeters. In the mountain areas, the roads are clear, but visibility is reduced.
A forecast has been announced in Greece for heavy rains, thunderstorms and a sharp drop in temperatures in the northern and northeastern parts of the country from this afternoon, the newspaper reports. "Kathimerini", citing the National Meteorological Service.
The storms will first affect the regions of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, then move to the northeastern Aegean Sea, including the island of Limnos, during the night. Snowfall is expected in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas on Monday.
In the western and southern parts of Greece, as well as on the islands, there will be increased cloudiness and episodic rainfall, as well as isolated storms mainly on the island of Crete. Winds are expected to reach the seventh degree on the Beaufort scale.