Severe Storms Disrupt Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia

Stormy winds, heavy rain, and snow battered parts of Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia on Friday, shutting down schools, cutting power to thousands of households, and blocking roads across the region.

In Slovenia, authorities issued weather alerts for dozens of municipalities in the northern and northwestern areas, where wind speeds hit 141 kilometers per hour, or 87 miles per hour, according to the public broadcaster RTV SLO. Fallen trees blocked numerous roads, forcing emergency crews to work overnight to clear debris. More than 15,000 people lost electricity in the affected zones. Snowfall extended to lower elevations in the southern parts of the Alpine country, exacerbating travel disruptions.

Neighboring Croatia faced similar chaos, with strong gusts sweeping through the capital of Zagreb late Thursday and into Friday. Winds toppled trees by their roots, damaged tram lines, and tore off roofs, while images from local media and social networks captured debris-strewn streets and vehicles crushed under fallen branches. Classes in primary and secondary schools were suspended nationwide due to the hazardous conditions. The winds occasionally gusted to 120 kilometers per hour, or 74...