The lowest temperature recorded today at 7am in continental Croatia was in Slatina, -20 degrees Celsius, followed by Zavizan (-19), Bednja (-18), Virovitica (-17), and Djakovo, Cakovec, Koprivnica, Lipik and Varazdin (-15).
On the coast, the lowest temperature was in Sibenik, -5 degrees Celsius.
The lowest temperatures in the country so far were recorded in Gospic in 1963, -28.9 degrees Celsius. On the coast, the lowest temperature has been recorded in Rovinj (-14.8). The lowest temperature in Zagreb has been -24 degrees Celsius.
Today, the daily temperature in continental Croatia is forecast to range from -10 to -5 and on the coast from -1 to +4. In the night, temperature will go from -16 and -8 inland and from -7 to -2 on the coast.
A number of families and elderly persons have been trapped by snow and ice in their homes in Bogodol and Bile, two villages near Mostar in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, seeking help from the city and cantonal authorities. Rescue teams tried to reached them on Tuesday but failed to break through, so they appealed to the city authorities.
The Balkan region was caught in a snowstorm over the weekend, which was followed by extremely low temperatures.
Serbia reported two deaths from the cold and today the temperature is forecast at -6 degrees Celsius. Tonight Belgrade is set to usher in the New Year at -12.
The mountains around Sarajevo recorded -23 this morning, whereas the Bosnian capital recorded -10. A strong wind and temperatures far below zero are expected tonight.
Montenegrin mountains recorded -17 today.
Macedonian authorities have issued a code yellow in some parts of the country because of "polar temperatures," with the lowest recorded today measuring -17.