The Service expects snowfall to begin in the south late Friday morning, reaching northern Hungary by early Saturday.

The snow is not expected to let up until Sunday morning in the west and later elsewhere in Hungary.

Eastern Hungary is expected to be hardest hit, with predictions of 30-50cm of snow by Sunday night. Only 3-10cm is expected in the northwest, and 15-25cm in Budapest.

The very cold weather is set to continue for at least a week, with temperatures varying from –5C to –18C today. The coldest day will be Monday, with lows of –16C to –21C.

The government is asking all organisations, institutions and churches to open any rooms where homeless people might stay during the cold snap.

So far three people have died of exposure in Hungary. A man who disappeared in the outskirts of Mátészalka, east Hungary in early January was found dead, while a homeless man in Pécs also died. On Wednesday an elderly man froze to death on the terrace of his home in Szolnok."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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