Romania is bracing up for more days of cold weather
A wave of cold weather has for the past days got Romania in its grip recalling the winters of yore
Leyla Cheamil, 19.01.2026, 13:55
Experts say that after many years of mild winters, the weather seems to have returned to the temperature values we used to have two decades ago.
Meteorologists have issued a code yellow alert for extremely cold weather with lows ranging between – 20 and – 10 degrees Celsius. Temperatures have recently plunged down to – 22 degrees Celsius at Joseni, the lowest temperature nation wise whereas in Miercurea Ciuc, central Romania, thermometers displayed sub-zero temperatures of – 21.
Last week temperatures plunged to -21 Celsius at Întorsura Buzăului, a region known as one of the coldest in Romania. The lowest temperature officially recorded in the area in the past 50 years was of -35.8 degrees in February 2005. Meteorologists explain the present freezing temperatures through a mass of cold air, which engulfed Romania, the clear sky and the snow layer. The cold weather is also going to be reflected in the utility invoices of the Romanians, which are expected to grow significantly.
According to the authorities the country’s power grid is functioning properly in spite of the harsh weather, and the need for electricity and heat has been covered without any problems whatsoever. Gas storage facilities are filled over 60%, above the EU average, and also 200 million cubic meters more than the level of the same period last year.
Energy Minister, Bogdan Ivan, has recently said that the domestic output, extraction and imports are balanced and Romania continues to support the Republic of Moldova. Quote: “It is important that Romania is now ready to overcome this period in a perfect synchronization between gas producers and companies transporting and distributing it. All operators promptly responded to our call and started storing gas as early as summer and made sure we had our storage facilities 100% full for the coming winter. We got ready for a serious situation and this is exactly what happened and now we can rely on those additional deposits created,” Minister Bogdan Ivan said.
He explained that the output units had been monitored permanently and specialized teams promptly intervened whenever isolated incidents occurred. On the other hand, Bogdan Ivan has mentioned the Energy Ministry is working on a mechanism of protecting gas users from vulnerable categories for the upcoming cold season, after the present price cap expires at the end of March.
(bill)
