Red alert-level heatwave hits southern Romania, causing traffic restrictions and drought

Meteorologists issued a red alert for heatwave that will cover almost all of southern Romania, including Bucharest, this weekend. Temperatures will reach 38-39 degrees Celsius, which will prolong traffic restrictions and cause delays for trains. At the same time, the high temperatures also caused drought in Prahova county, where roughly 4,000 people face limited access to drinking water.

On Saturday, June 22, maximum temperatures will be 38-39 degrees and minimum temperatures will be around 20 degrees in southern Romania. An orange alert is also issued for western Romania, in Banat, southern Crișana, most of Transylvania, and locally in the regions of Oltenia and Muntenia.

On Sunday, June 23, the red alert will persist in the counties of Dolj, Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Ilfov, the southern parts of Vâlcea, Argeș, Dâmbovița, and in Bucharest.

Further details on the National Meteorological Administration's alerts are available here.

Romania’s state-owned railway operator CFR Călători also announced delays due to extreme heat. The high temperature force trains to operate at reduced speeds, leading to potential discomfort for passengers. These speed restrictions are a standard safety measure adopted by railway administrations worldwide, including Romania's CFR.

“On days with extreme temperatures (often exceeding 50-55 degrees Celsius in the sun), which are registered at the rail and rolling stock level, air conditioning systems may fail to provide cooling and may operate in ventilation mode,” the operator said in a press release.

CFR Călători recommends that passengers, especially those with increased sensitivity to heat or who cannot tolerate high temperatures due to medical conditions, stay hydrated and carry at least one bottle of water in their luggage. Travelers are also advised to immediately alert train personnel if they feel unwell during the journey or if they observe someone in need of assistance.

The heat also affected road traffic. The Infotraffic Center of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police announced traffic restrictions for vehicles with a maximum authorized total weight greater than 7.5 tons on all national roads, express roads, and highways in several counties due to heatwave warnings, until June 24.

"The circulation of vehicles with a maximum authorized total weight greater than 7.5 tons will be prohibited on all sectors of national roads, express roads, and highways in the counties of Alba, Argeș, Caraș-Severin, Dâmbovița, Dolj, Giurgiu, Gorj, Hunedoara, Ilfov, Mehedinți, Olt, Sibiu, Teleorman, Timiș, and Vâlcea," according to the Infotraffic Center of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police.