Over 25,000 homes in Serbia lost electricity on Sunday due to gale-force winds and snowstorms, and travel was hampered in neighboring Croatia and Montenegro by fallen trees.

Due to north winds that were predicted to reach 130 km/h, a red alert was issued for the Adriatic coast in Croatia.

Authorities in Montenegro’s coastal town of Budva warned citizens to stay indoor after strong wind on Saturday destroyed a school roof, brought down trees and lamp posts, sank a tourist boat and disrupted traffic along the coast.

More than 250 km of local roads in mountainous southeastern Serbia were closed due to snowdrifts reaching two metres, local media reported.

Bosnian authorities banned the use of heavy lorries in mountainous regions due to snowdrifts and icy roads.

Meteorologists have announced freezing temperatures and snow storms across the Balkans will continue in the days to come.