Romania under the Heat Dome
The country is currently grappling with an unprecedented heatwave
Bogdan Matei, 30.06.2026, 14:00
It is completely unusual that the Ministry of Education in Romania decide the postponement of a test in the Baccalaureate exam, traditionally marked by emotions from high-school graduates and parents alike. It happens now as the tests in mathematics and history have been delayed from Tuesday to Wednesday. The decision comes against the background of a code red weather alert and is aimed at protecting the health of students, teachers and the entire personnel. The rest of the tests are going to be held according to the initial schedule. The latest heatwave has also prompted the Romanian Railway Company to temporarily limit the speed of its trains, while the National Roads Company has imposed restrictions to trucks and other heavy transport equipment valid in three quarters of the national territory. The measure has been taken to protect roads from the damage caused by both heavy traffic and extremely hot temperatures. The only exceptions are the transport of passengers and living animals as well as of perishable and essential commodities, such as fuel, first-aid equipment, emergency interventions and other categories provided by the legislation in force.
However, the entire Europe is under a heat cupola, experts are calling dome. The PhD Physicist Monica Ioniţă Scholz, who is doing research in Germany, has told Radio Romania this dome is actually an extremely high pressure system covering a huge area. It can cover the entire Central and part of Eastern Europe. It is called atmospheric blocking. There are no clouds whatsoever and there is a lot of solar radiation, while particularly in urban areas, buildings do not have time to cool off and continue to radiate heat, amplifying the sensation of suffocation. Doctors have cautioned against extreme temperatures, which are a major health hazard, thermal stress being one of the major causes of heat-related deaths.
The latest heatwave has made people to travel to lakes, rivers and outdoor swimming pools to cool off. A 16 year-old has been admitted to a hospital in eastern Romania after a heart-arrest caused by immersion in water. The extremely hot weather usually goes hand-in-hand with thunderstorms.
More than 20 fallen trees and damaged vehicles have been reported in nine localities from north-western to south-eastern Romania. According to the Department for Emergency Situations, rescue teams have taken action to remove construction elements and fallen trees, including an electricity post that was blocking a road. A roof collapsed under heavy winds in Targoviste, southern Romania, wounding a woman.
(bill)
