A heavy snowstorm that began early on Thursday caused widespread power outages and disruption across Slovenia, particularly affecting the regions of Maribor and Celje, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity.
Local authorities reported that around 35,000 consumers in Maribor and over 6,000 in Celje are currently without power, while snow-blocked roads, icy sidewalks, and fallen trees have further hampered traffic and infrastructure services.
The storm, fueled by a strong cyclone from the Adriatic Sea, has brought heavy snow and rain across the Balkans, impacting neighboring countries including North Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania.
Meteorologists warned that the snow and harsh weather conditions are expected to continue, potentially causing further power outages and disruptions to critical services until conditions stabilize.