Heavy snowfall and blizzard forecast for southern and eastern Romania, including Bucharest

Starting Tuesday afternoon, February 17, Bucharest and 12 counties in the Muntenia and Moldova regions are under an Orange Code warning for heavy snowfall, strong wind intensifications, and severe blizzard, with the snow layer expected to reach up to 50 centimeters, the National Meteorological Administration (ANM) announced. Florinela Georgescu, forecasting director, told Digi24 this is “the most severe episode of blizzard and snowfall of this winter.”

Meteorologists announced three warnings in total: an Orange Code and two Yellow Codes.

The Orange Code, valid between February 17 (8 PM) and February 18 (12 AM), covers Bucharest and 12 counties in the Muntenia and Moldova regions. During this time, heavy snowfall, strong wind intensifications, and severe blizzards are expected. The snow layer will reach up to 50 centimeters.

“These regions will experience wind speeds of 60-85 km/h, which means that during the night, there will be a strong blizzard, including in the capital. Bucharest will be affected both by wind intensifications and by significant snowfall,” said the head of ANM, Florinela Georgescu, cited by Digi24.

“It is severe weather. It is probably the most severe episode of this winter that we will monitor closely,” she added.

In Giurgiu county, the Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU) announced that schools will be closed on Wednesday, and classes will be held online, due to the heavy snowfall.

During the same period, south-eastern Oltenia, southern Transylvania, Muntenia, Dobrogea, and Moldova will experience significant precipitation, including rain, sleet, and snow, and will be under a Yellow Code warning. During the day, mixed precipitation will occur, while at night, snow will dominate. In Dobrogea, rain will gradually turn into sleet and snow.

Precipitation amounts are expected to reach 25–30 l/sqm on average, and locally over 40–45 l/sqm. Snow accumulation will average 10–30 centimeters, while in the south-eastern areas, ice may form locally. Winds will intensify with gusts of 50–70 km/h, accompanied by blizzard conditions and visibility reduced to below 100 meters.

In the Southern Carpathians, most of the Eastern Carpathians, and the Banat Mountains,