Heat and thunderstorms

Romania has recently been hit by a heat wave as well as by torrential rain, thunderstorms and floods

Daniela Budu, 08.08.2017, 13:44

Code yellow, orange and red alert against scorcher, code yellow alert against atmospheric instability and warnings of the temperature-humidity comfort index exceeding the critical threshold of 80 units have made the headlines in Romania over the past few days. The codes were valid for the entire country. Temperatures stood close to and even exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in places. The heat wave which swept Romania over the past few days has taken a toll of seven lives, with hundreds of others taken to hospital for medical care.

On one day alone, over 750 people called the Bucharest-Ilfov Emergency Service, that is 18% more than on a similar day of July. First aid tents have been placed in all big cities across the country. Rail speed limit reductions have been imposed to avoid accidents, and heavy vehicle traffic has been banned on highways and national roads.

Forest fire broke out because of high temperatures in the southwest of the country, with the fire spreading to some 50 hectares of deciduous forests (beech and oak), which makes it increasingly difficult to contain because of scorcher and drought. The fire spread at a fast pace and produced extensive damage to the forest fund. In the wake of the heat wave, half of the countrys territory has been hit by thunderstorms, torrential rain and hail.

Hydrologists have warned that several rivers might exceed bankfull levels and even burst their banks. Therefore, they issued a code yellow alert against flooding. On the seaside, life safeguards have raised the red flag against powerful waves. Meteorologists have announced that after only one day with normal temperatures for this time of the year, registered on Tuesday, the heat wave will make a come back on Wednesday, to gradually take the whole country in its grip.

Meteorologist Mihai Timu has further details: “By the end of the week, the heat wave will return to Romania and sweep the whole country. It will hit mostly the same regions as last week, the most affected being not only our country but also states located west of Romania. Temperatures will again reach 38 – 39 degrees Celsius, most likely in southern Crişana, Banat and Oltenia. Sunday will bring lower temperatures, but this wave of cooler weather will bring along atmospheric instability. However, the whole country will enjoy cooler days.

Meteorologists say Romania will further face fickle weather and sweltering temperatures in the following two weeks, with days marked by high temperatures, with thermometers reading 34 degrees Celsius, on an average, but also with narrow time spans when rainfalls are very likely, especially in the mountains.

Not only Romania, but the whole of Central and Southern Europe, as well as regions in Italy, Switzerland and France have been affected by heat, torrential rain, thunderstorms and floods over the past few days.