Springtime snow and gusts sweep across Balkans
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - An unusual occurrence of wintry weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that snarled traffic in the region.
Residents in the capitals of Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo woke to the sight of trees and bushes blanketed in snow.
In Croatia and Montenegro, strong winds stopped most ferry lines along the Adriatic Sea coastline and delayed a flight from Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, to Belgrade.
Authorities in Serbia said that a tree branch fell on two teenage girls in Belgrade, apparently brought down by wet and heavy snow. The girls were taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Snow blocked several roads in southern and southwestern Serbia and some villages were left without electricity, police said in a statement, urging caution.
Some flooding of homes and farmland was reported in the southern area as authorities warned more rivers could overflow their banks in coming days.
A man walks through a snow covered park in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Fallen tree branches also damaged parked cars in several locations around Belgrade where huge traffic lines clogged roads during the morning rush hour.
Hours earlier, a bus carrying workers for their morning shift slid off a snow-covered road, slightly injuring 18 people, the state RTS television said.
Croatia's state HRT television reported that strong wind "paralyzed" sea traffic while also triggering a ban for all vehicles but small cars on coastal roads.
In Romania, heavy snow swept through most of the country´s Carpathian Mountains.
Workers remove fallen tree branches from damaged parked car in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Workers remove fallen tree branches from a damaged parked car in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A woman walks through a snow covered street in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A woman with a dog walks through a snow covered street in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A man walks through a snow covered street in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
A man carrying an umbrella walks next to the blossoming flowers during snowfall in downtown Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Elderly man walks next to the blossoming flowers during a snowfall in downtown Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Snow is seen on a blossoming branches in downtown Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
People walk during a snowfall next to the blossoming branches in downtown Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Man smokes a cigar under blossoming trees during a snowfall, in downtown Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 4, 2023. An unusual occurrence of winter-like weather in spring swept through the Western Balkans Tuesday, bringing snow and gusts that have snarled traffic in the region. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
