The early first snow for the new winter has already fallen in Central Europe, tragically claiming three lives in Poland.

The three victims of deadly frostbite are men aged 50-60, one of them being a homeless person.

The heavy snowfall in southern Poland has obstructed communications, and some 70,000 people have remained without power.

The situation in neighboring Czech Republic is similar, with trains delayed, roads blocked by wet snow, and trees felled.

Northern Italy and Switzerland have also been affected by the phenomenon, caused by the so-called Cassandra cyclone.

Snow has also fallen in the northern areas of southerly Croatia on the Balkan Peninsula, with the snow cover expected to reach some 20 cm by Sunday evening.