Update - Winter returns to Romania this weekend: code orange for blizzard in Bucharest

Snow and blizzard will hit Romania’s southeastern region, including the capital Bucharest, in the following days. Romania’s weather authority ANM issued on Friday a code yellow for snowfall for Romania’s southern half and a code orange for blizzard in the southeastern region. Romania’s capital Bucharest is targeted by both codes, as well as Prahova, Buzau, Vrancea, Galati, Braila, Ialomita, Calarasi, Giurgiu, Constanta, and Tulcea counties. It will start snowing in this region on Saturday afternoon and the blizzard will be most intense on Sunday, as the wind will blow with 50-60 kilometers per hour and may reach 70-80 kilometers per hour in some areas, carrying the snow with it. Considering this warning, it is highly likely that the highways connecting Bucharest to Constanta, Ploiesti and Pitesti will close. Several other important roads may close until the authorities will manage to remove the snow and make them safe for traffic. Traffic in Bucharest will also get more difficult. This time, the snow may stay for a while as the temperatures will also drop to negative levels after several spring-like days. Starting Tuesday, Bucharest may experience several days with maximum daytime temperatures of minus 5 degrees Celsius. During the nights, the minimum temperatures may occasionally fall under minus 15 degrees. The winter weather will take over all of Romania this weekend. According to the meteorologists, it will rain in the western half of the country on Friday, with the quantities of water reaching 20 liters per sqm. The rain is expected to turn into sleet and snow in the following days. Snow is forecasted for the mountain areas, as well as in Maramures and Transylvania regions (in northern and central Romania). The wind will also blow strongly in the mountains, reaching speeds of 70-80 km per hour, but also in the south-west region of the country and in some parts of the east and south-east areas (50-60 km per hour). Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com