Belgrade - An unusually early cold wave hit the Balkans, with heavy snowfall in Bosnia and a sharp drop in temperatures in Serbia and Macedonia, local media reported Tuesday.

Heavy snowfall during the night knocked out power lines in Sarajevo and eastern Bosnia, leaving thousands of households without electricity and roads blocked by fallen trees. The snow, which came early this year, reached a depth of some 25 centimetres.

In neighbouring Macedonia and Serbia, the temperatures dropped from around 20 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees during the night, followed by heavy rain. The rain, which turned into snow in mountainous regions, caused traffic jams in Serbia. (dpa)