site.btaSnowfall, Subzero Temperatures Cause Disruptions in North Macedonia

Snow that piled up across North Macedonia on Wednesday morning, along with subzero temperatures, has caused disruptions to road conditions. Public bus services are operating partial routes in some areas, the Crisis Management Centre said, adding that the winter service is continuously clearing and salting the roads due to ice and snow on the streets of Skopje.

Municipal winter services are working intensively to restore normal traffic conditions, though some traffic jams have formed due to blocked streets and testing of the Safe City system.

In the Bitola region, priority roads are being cleared first, followed by other routes, the Centre said. The Veles–Skopje road is closed to all vehicles for snow removal. At the Tabanovce border crossing with Serbia, trucks are blocked due to uncleared roads, and some regional roads are difficult to pass because of heavy snow cover.

Snow cover of some 10 cm has accumulated in the Mavrovo and Rostuse municipalities. Heavy vehicles are banned on the Gostivar–Straza road as well as on the mountain passes of Preseka, Mavrovo–Debar, and Struga–Qafe Thane (on the border with Albania).

The Crisis Management Centre urged citizens to exercise caution when travelling and ensure they have sufficient fuel and their vehicles are properly equipped for winter conditions, particularly in higher-altitude areas and mountain passes, where there may be snowdrifts and impassable roads.

Residents in higher-altitude areas are also advised to stock up on essential supplies, such as food and medicine, and pedestrians are urged to be cautious due to potential icy conditions.