A wave of harsh winter weather has swept over the Western Balkans this week, bringing disruption for some and excitement for others.

Temperatures in Croatia fell as low as -17 degrees Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit) meteorologist Matea Stubuhar said, with more cold weather on the way.

In the Serbian capital Belgrade, commuters faced tough road conditions and delays. But despite the cold, one group of locals banded together to keep the pavements outside their workplaces clear for pedestrians.

"Nothing improves your mood like when you come to work and good neighbours like this await you," said bar worker Aleksandar Lukic, "we all join forces and get to work to help our mostly elderly fellow citizens so they can walk down the street safely."

In Bosnia's Sarajevo, locals we hard at work to clear roads and paths on Thursday morning (Jan. 8). Temperatures there were forecast to warm slightly above freezing on Friday and Saturday, but with more frigid weather on the way for the turn of the week.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Winter weather sweeps over Western Balkans

VIDEO SHOWS: SNOWY SCENES, PEOPLE CLEARING SNOW, ENJOYING SNOW IN ZAGREB, BELGRADE AND SARAJEVO

SHOWS: ZAGREB, CROATIA (JANUARY 8, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. VARIOUS AERIAL VIEWS OF HEAT PLANT AT DAWN IN COLD WEATHER (MUTE)

2. VARIOUS AERIALS OF ZAGREB SKYLINE AT DAWN (MUTE)

3. WEATHER APP ON MOBILE PHONE SHOWING -13C (9 FAHRENHEIT) SNOW-COVERED PARK

4. PARK, PEOPLE WALKING

5. VARIOUS OF PLEASURE BOATS ON FROZEN LAKE

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN SNOW

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) ZAGREB RESIDENT, GORDANA TALINEC, SAYING:

"It's very nice, it's cold, this week it's -13C (9 Fahrenheit), I'm enjoying this weather, and I've been going out for a walk every morning this week."

8. VARIOUS OF METEOROLOGISTS IN OFFICE MONITORING WEATHER FORECAST, SCREEN SHOWING MAPS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) METEOROLOGIST, MATEA STIBUHAR, SAYING:

"The temperature dropped to -14 degrees (Celsius, 7 Fahrenheit) in Maksimir (central Zagreb), while -17 (1 Fahrenheit) was measured at the stations in Bednja and Varaždin, and these are actually the lowest temperature values measured at our stations this morning, but I believe there were also lower values around than those mentioned."

10. STIBUHAR WORKING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) METEOROLOGIST, MATEA STIBUHAR, SAYING:

"At the end of Sunday, the temperature will drop again due to clearing and the influx of colder air from the north-northeast, so Monday morning will be cold again like today, and even colder on the Adriatic."

12. AERIAL VIEW OF BOATS ON FROZEN RIVER (MUTE)

BELGRADE, SERBIA (JANUARY 8, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

13. VARIOUS OF CENTRAL BELGRADE STREET, TRAFFIC, SNOW CLEANING VEHICLE ON STREET

14. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CLEARING SNOW IN FRONT OF BUILDING ENTRANCES, WOMAN BREAKING ICE WITH HAMMER, MAN BREAKING ICE WITH SHOVEL

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) ALEKSANDAR LUKIC, SAYING:

"This is a disaster today. First the traffic, blockages, a total collapse... we barely got to work a bit late, but nothing improves your mood like when you come to work and good neighbours like this await you, where we all join forces and get to work to help our mostly elderly fellow citizens so that they can walk down the street safely, at least in front of the bar where we work."

16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SNOW-COVERED PAVEMENT

17. TRAFFIC LIGHT COVERED IN SNOW

18. MAN CLEARING PAVEMENT

19. VARIOUS OF TRAMS IN TRAFFIC

20. SNOW-COVERED UMBRELLAS (NEW YEAR DECORATIONS)

21. MAN POURING SALT ON PAVEMENT IN FRONT OF BUILDING ENTRANCE

22. VARIOUS OF SNOW-COVERED SCOOTER

24. CAR WITH TIRES SPINNING ON SNOW-COVERED STREET

25. MAN CLEANING SNOW AND ICE ON CAR'S WINDSHIELD

26. ICICLES HANGING FROM ROOF

27. PEOPLE WALKING ON FROZEN PAVEMENT

28. WOMAN CLEANING SNOW IN FRONT OF ENTRANCE

29. VARIOUS OF WOMAN WALKING DOG IN SNOW

30. SNOW COVERED CARS

31. FAMILY WITH CHILDREN POSING WITH SNOWMAN

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA (JANUARY 8, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

32. VARIOUS AERIAL VIEWS OF SARAJEVO (MUTE)

33. MAIN PEDESTRIAN ZONE IN CENTRE OF SARAJEVO, MINARET, SNOW-COVERED STREET

34. VARIOUS OF PIGEONS ON ELECTRICITY CABLES

35. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON SNOW-COVERED STREET

36. (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) SARAJEVO RESIDENT, ARMIN HASANOVIC, SAYING:

"It takes me an hour to get to work, it is very difficult to function like this, the streets are not cleared, especially for pedestrians. A bit more care should be taken in this respect."

37. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CLEARING SNOW WITH SHOVELS

38. SHOP ASSISTANTS CARRYING SHOP SUPPLIES ON FOOT FROM OPEN DELIVERY TRUCK

39. VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC, PEOPLE CLEARING SNOW