The Romanian capital got its first white Christmas in 13 years last month, and much of the country hasn’t seen a ‘proper winter’ with snowstorms and blizzards for many years.
That will change this week, albeit temporarily, with weather forecasters predicting heavy snow, black ice and blizzards in the mountains and other regions. Bucharest is to be spared the current icy spell with grey, damp weather forecast for most of this week.
But for other regions, it will be the first cold snap of the winter. Meteorologists on Monday issued a yellow code for snowfall in the southwest province of Banat, the northwest Transylvania region and the south Carpathians.
Forecasters predict 20 – 25 cm of snow in higher areas and 10 – 20 cm lower down. Winds will intensify with speeds of 50 – 70 km/h in the mountains and up to 85 km/h at altitudes over 1,700 meters. Blizzards are expected and visibility will be low.
Code orange across four counties
A higher level orange alert was issued Monday morning in mountainous areas across the counties of Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți, Gorj and Hunedoara counties. Snow dumps of up to 30 cm can be expected and winds gusting up to 90 km/h.
But for those hoping for the winter of the past, the cold weather won’t last and temperatures are expected to rise later in the week.
Until then, though, most of Romania can expect snow, sleet and icy conditions.
