The unusually cold weather snap across Croatia is expected to peak on Thursday (March 1), according to forecast issued by the National Protection and Rescue Directorate (DUZS).

Snowfall is expected to gradually turn into rains toward the end of the week, which might combine with melting ice and snow to bring up river levels in some parts of the country, the forecast warned.

DUZS said they would continue monitoring the weather situation and react accordingly to any immediate threats of flooding, with civil protection agencies at municipal, county and national levels standing by.